diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py b/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
index d5c277c5..c15fc743 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
@@ -108,9 +108,8 @@ def connect_to_leader(cert=None, name=None, leader=None):
             cfm._cfgstore['collective'] = colldata
             for globvar in globaldata:
                 cfm.set_global(globvar, globaldata[globvar])
-            cfm.ConfigManager(tenant=None)._load_from_json(dbjson)
             cfm._txcount = dbi['txcount']
-            cfm.ConfigManager._bg_sync_to_file()
+            cfm.ConfigManager(tenant=None)._load_from_json(dbjson)
             currentleader = leader
         #spawn this as a thread...
         follower = eventlet.spawn(follow_leader, remote)