diff --git a/docs/api/v2/node.md b/docs/api/v2/node.md
index c3ab6c9d1..d07154fad 100644
--- a/docs/api/v2/node.md
+++ b/docs/api/v2/node.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ proc start*(node: WakuNode) {.async.} =
   ##
   ## Status: Implemented.
 
-proc subscribe*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic, handler: TopicHandler) {.async.} =
+proc subscribe*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic, handler: TopicHandler) =
   ## Subscribes to a PubSub topic. Triggers handler when receiving messages on
   ## this topic. TopicHandler is a method that takes a topic and some data.
   ##
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ proc subscribe*(node: WakuNode, request: FilterRequest, handler: ContentFilterHa
   ##
   ## Status: Implemented.
 
-proc unsubscribe*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic, handler: TopicHandler) {.async.} =
+proc unsubscribe*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic, handler: TopicHandler) =
   ## Unsubscribes a handler from a PubSub topic.
   ##
   ## Status: Implemented.
 
-proc unsubscribeAll*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic) {.async.} =
+proc unsubscribeAll*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic) =
   ## Unsubscribes all handlers registered on a specific PubSub topic.
   ##
   ## Status: Implemented.
diff --git a/examples/v2/basic2.nim b/examples/v2/basic2.nim
index 328fad69f..2ad659073 100644
--- a/examples/v2/basic2.nim
+++ b/examples/v2/basic2.nim
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ proc runBackground() {.async.} =
       Port(uint16(conf.tcpPort) + conf.portsShift), extIp, extTcpPort)
 
   await node.start()
-  await node.mountRelay(rlnRelayEnabled = conf.rlnrelay)
+  node.mountRelay(rlnRelayEnabled = conf.rlnrelay)
 
   # Subscribe to a topic
   let topic = cast[Topic]("foobar")
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ proc runBackground() {.async.} =
     let message = WakuMessage.init(data).value
     let payload = cast[string](message.payload)
     info "Hit subscribe handler", topic=topic, payload=payload, contentTopic=message.contentTopic
-  await node.subscribe(topic, handler)
+  node.subscribe(topic, handler)
 
   # Publish to a topic
   let payload = cast[seq[byte]]("hello world")
diff --git a/examples/v2/chat2.nim b/examples/v2/chat2.nim
index b69462656..49e6af63e 100644
--- a/examples/v2/chat2.nim
+++ b/examples/v2/chat2.nim
@@ -176,9 +176,9 @@ proc processInput(rfd: AsyncFD, rng: ref BrHmacDrbgContext) {.async.} =
   await node.start()
 
   if conf.filternode != "":
-    await node.mountRelay(conf.topics.split(" "), rlnRelayEnabled = conf.rlnrelay)
+    node.mountRelay(conf.topics.split(" "), rlnRelayEnabled = conf.rlnrelay)
   else:
-    await node.mountRelay(@[], rlnRelayEnabled = conf.rlnrelay)
+    node.mountRelay(@[], rlnRelayEnabled = conf.rlnrelay)
 
   var chat = Chat(node: node, transp: transp, subscribed: true, connected: false, started: true)
 
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ proc processInput(rfd: AsyncFD, rng: ref BrHmacDrbgContext) {.async.} =
       trace "Invalid encoded WakuMessage", error = decoded.error
 
   let topic = cast[Topic](DefaultTopic)
-  await node.subscribe(topic, handler)
+  node.subscribe(topic, handler)
 
   await chat.readWriteLoop()
   runForever()
diff --git a/tests/v2/test_jsonrpc_waku.nim b/tests/v2/test_jsonrpc_waku.nim
index 699bf396e..f46ccf231 100644
--- a/tests/v2/test_jsonrpc_waku.nim
+++ b/tests/v2/test_jsonrpc_waku.nim
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ procSuite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API":
   asyncTest "Debug API: get node info": 
     waitFor node.start()
 
-    waitFor node.mountRelay()
+    node.mountRelay()
 
     # RPC server setup
     let
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ procSuite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API":
   asyncTest "Relay API: publish and subscribe/unsubscribe": 
     waitFor node.start()
 
-    waitFor node.mountRelay()
+    node.mountRelay()
 
     # RPC server setup
     let
@@ -128,13 +128,13 @@ procSuite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API":
       message = WakuMessage(payload: payload, contentTopic: contentTopic)
 
     await node1.start()
-    await node1.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node1.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node2.start()
-    await node2.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node2.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node3.start()
-    await node3.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node3.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node1.connectToNodes(@[node2.peerInfo])
     await node3.connectToNodes(@[node2.peerInfo])
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ procSuite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API":
   asyncTest "Store API: retrieve historical messages":      
     waitFor node.start()
 
-    waitFor node.mountRelay(@[defaultTopic])
+    node.mountRelay(@[defaultTopic])
 
     # RPC server setup
     let
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ procSuite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API":
   asyncTest "Filter API: subscribe/unsubscribe": 
     waitFor node.start()
 
-    waitFor node.mountRelay()
+    node.mountRelay()
 
     node.mountFilter()
 
@@ -434,13 +434,13 @@ procSuite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API":
       topicCache = newTable[string, seq[WakuMessage]]()
 
     await node1.start()
-    await node1.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node1.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node2.start()
-    await node2.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node2.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node3.start()
-    await node3.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node3.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node1.connectToNodes(@[node2.peerInfo])
     await node3.connectToNodes(@[node2.peerInfo])
@@ -524,13 +524,13 @@ procSuite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API":
       topicCache = newTable[string, seq[WakuMessage]]()
 
     await node1.start()
-    await node1.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node1.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node2.start()
-    await node2.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node2.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node3.start()
-    await node3.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node3.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node1.connectToNodes(@[node2.peerInfo])
     await node3.connectToNodes(@[node2.peerInfo])
diff --git a/tests/v2/test_rpc_waku.nim b/tests/v2/test_rpc_waku.nim
index 307a8369c..9183c8667 100644
--- a/tests/v2/test_rpc_waku.nim
+++ b/tests/v2/test_rpc_waku.nim
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ suite "Waku v2 Remote Procedure Calls":
 
   waitFor node.start()
 
-  waitFor node.mountRelay(@["waku"])
+  node.mountRelay(@["waku"])
 
   # RPC server setup
   let
diff --git a/tests/v2/test_waku.nim b/tests/v2/test_waku.nim
index c60c1e4c7..9583f969e 100644
--- a/tests/v2/test_waku.nim
+++ b/tests/v2/test_waku.nim
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ procSuite "FloodSub":
       )
 
     for node in nodes:
-      await node.mountRelay()
+      node.mountRelay()
 
     await subscribeNodes(nodes)
 
diff --git a/tests/v2/test_wakunode.nim b/tests/v2/test_wakunode.nim
index 75a22502f..afee342b4 100644
--- a/tests/v2/test_wakunode.nim
+++ b/tests/v2/test_wakunode.nim
@@ -49,10 +49,10 @@ procSuite "WakuNode":
 
     await node.start()
 
-    await node.mountRelay()
+    node.mountRelay()
 
     # Subscribe our node to the pubSubTopic where all chat data go onto.
-    await node.subscribe(pubSubTopic, relayHandler)
+    node.subscribe(pubSubTopic, relayHandler)
 
     # Subscribe a contentFilter to trigger a specific application handler when
     # WakuMessages with that content are received
@@ -101,14 +101,14 @@ procSuite "WakuNode":
 
     await allFutures([node1.start(), node2.start()])
 
-    await node1.mountRelay()
-    await node2.mountRelay()
+    node1.mountRelay()
+    node2.mountRelay()
 
     node1.mountFilter()
     node2.mountFilter()
 
     # Subscribe our node to the pubSubTopic where all chat data go onto.
-    await node1.subscribe(pubSubTopic, relayHandler)
+    node1.subscribe(pubSubTopic, relayHandler)
     # Subscribe a contentFilter to trigger a specific application handler when
     # WakuMessages with that content are received
     node1.wakuFilter.setPeer(node2.peerInfo)
@@ -221,13 +221,13 @@ procSuite "WakuNode":
       message = WakuMessage(payload: payload, contentTopic: contentTopic)
 
     await node1.start()
-    await node1.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node1.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node2.start()
-    await node2.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node2.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node3.start()
-    await node3.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
+    node3.mountRelay(@[pubSubTopic])
 
     await node1.connectToNodes(@[node2.peerInfo])
     await node3.connectToNodes(@[node2.peerInfo])
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ procSuite "WakuNode":
           val.payload == payload
       completionFut.complete(true)
 
-    await node3.subscribe(pubSubTopic, relayHandler)
+    node3.subscribe(pubSubTopic, relayHandler)
     await sleepAsync(2000.millis)
 
     await node1.publish(pubSubTopic, message)
diff --git a/vendor/nim-bearssl b/vendor/nim-bearssl
index ba5f46879..eebf730cc 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-bearssl
+++ b/vendor/nim-bearssl
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit ba5f4687987817902c2727e30b35cb5ad1e61203
+Subproject commit eebf730ccda5b5fade2a8f48b3da1496f2c47ba5
diff --git a/vendor/nim-chronicles b/vendor/nim-chronicles
index b7150d195..b42899070 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-chronicles
+++ b/vendor/nim-chronicles
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit b7150d195beff7d018d47a36a2ea19630537cd8b
+Subproject commit b42899070a7daa5cf6f0843faf3d6d41659e9591
diff --git a/vendor/nim-chronos b/vendor/nim-chronos
index ac9b3e304..c1f6e7276 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-chronos
+++ b/vendor/nim-chronos
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit ac9b3e304f630a450efc996f47dc9e6133246a87
+Subproject commit c1f6e7276e3810cee4bf7358a36a3444fb4bd75e
diff --git a/vendor/nim-confutils b/vendor/nim-confutils
index 10de7aa44..cfa956619 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-confutils
+++ b/vendor/nim-confutils
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 10de7aa44330eb9dda1b9503e18ecbaabfbd6da1
+Subproject commit cfa95661913b0ff8b1609e3954894f8ab31bbf3e
diff --git a/vendor/nim-eth b/vendor/nim-eth
index 114680453..4e58eb48c 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-eth
+++ b/vendor/nim-eth
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 114680453f789f947a3c057bbeb5bdf593f5364b
+Subproject commit 4e58eb48ce1b1a06d28802ad22215de9ff92a916
diff --git a/vendor/nim-faststreams b/vendor/nim-faststreams
index 87309f312..9138f6a8b 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-faststreams
+++ b/vendor/nim-faststreams
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 87309f3120d4e627082171a188324d3ee14d8986
+Subproject commit 9138f6a8bb9a089790319753895722c2569707b0
diff --git a/vendor/nim-http-utils b/vendor/nim-http-utils
index 33d70b9f3..1639ac790 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-http-utils
+++ b/vendor/nim-http-utils
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 33d70b9f378591e074838d6608a4468940137357
+Subproject commit 1639ac79035c291688174a2037f7d695aa3ff6f3
diff --git a/vendor/nim-json-rpc b/vendor/nim-json-rpc
index dc3a2d33f..ded863fcb 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-json-rpc
+++ b/vendor/nim-json-rpc
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit dc3a2d33fc49e8415323da146b60b5c7e07afd2c
+Subproject commit ded863fcb1741483f285e3bbf27541efdc32c78c
diff --git a/vendor/nim-json-serialization b/vendor/nim-json-serialization
index 32f75d93b..7999d2522 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-json-serialization
+++ b/vendor/nim-json-serialization
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 32f75d93b0762328d1d85ce62cef84ed919ae31e
+Subproject commit 7999d2522565d88499b9d7f99c4175a8eb3f2b41
diff --git a/vendor/nim-libp2p b/vendor/nim-libp2p
index 7b1e65222..5aebf0990 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-libp2p
+++ b/vendor/nim-libp2p
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 7b1e652224c3d9aeb69923b557daba04f3742a14
+Subproject commit 5aebf0990e5315a0349e2414e7bc11da96f703bc
diff --git a/vendor/nim-metrics b/vendor/nim-metrics
index 22a386734..16ec7aecc 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-metrics
+++ b/vendor/nim-metrics
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 22a3867341f7b0a9d55661b41d7ee5febe35c86b
+Subproject commit 16ec7aeccc2020666d6b7c63288153f3917222fb
diff --git a/vendor/nim-nat-traversal b/vendor/nim-nat-traversal
index 24ba989cf..8994b67b0 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-nat-traversal
+++ b/vendor/nim-nat-traversal
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 24ba989cfcec00d16d7a9bf5e5691c77b3c9295f
+Subproject commit 8994b67b07813955c61bebddf4bd2325439c3535
diff --git a/vendor/nim-secp256k1 b/vendor/nim-secp256k1
index a9d5cba69..ac9605487 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-secp256k1
+++ b/vendor/nim-secp256k1
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit a9d5cba699a0ee636ad155ea0dc49747b24d2ea4
+Subproject commit ac96054870eb7cbc2cf72dd03fe5d5336b2e5dd9
diff --git a/vendor/nim-serialization b/vendor/nim-serialization
index 474bdbf49..4e2ffe3f6 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-serialization
+++ b/vendor/nim-serialization
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 474bdbf49cf1634ba504888ad1a1927a2703bd3f
+Subproject commit 4e2ffe3f6df5b753d7b11fef83cc5ee14f296c1c
diff --git a/vendor/nim-sqlite3-abi b/vendor/nim-sqlite3-abi
index 068ff3593..07039dd88 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-sqlite3-abi
+++ b/vendor/nim-sqlite3-abi
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 068ff3593c1582bf3d96b75dcf40fa72e3739b29
+Subproject commit 07039dd887c4e5b57367a16f4be3c18763be1d7b
diff --git a/vendor/nim-stew b/vendor/nim-stew
index ff524ed83..6d3e6a21c 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-stew
+++ b/vendor/nim-stew
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit ff524ed832b9933760a5c500252323ec840951a6
+Subproject commit 6d3e6a21caf4110d0d432b82f14e41e0271cd76b
diff --git a/vendor/nim-stint b/vendor/nim-stint
index 9e49b0014..bae3fc6ee 160000
--- a/vendor/nim-stint
+++ b/vendor/nim-stint
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 9e49b00148884a01d61478ae5d2c69b543b93ceb
+Subproject commit bae3fc6ee4f36a33849c9dafe5a52b9b6cdf672a
diff --git a/vendor/nimbus-build-system b/vendor/nimbus-build-system
index c8a1339b2..9c4c4d3ac 160000
--- a/vendor/nimbus-build-system
+++ b/vendor/nimbus-build-system
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit c8a1339b2b58bac086d37d7e3b42c105d5925e69
+Subproject commit 9c4c4d3acf8f13e8d973180548837cc738e14aa2
diff --git a/waku/common/wakubridge.nim b/waku/common/wakubridge.nim
index e0a123365..c0af3eb2f 100644
--- a/waku/common/wakubridge.nim
+++ b/waku/common/wakubridge.nim
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ proc startWakuV2(config: WakuNodeConf): Future[WakuNode] {.async.} =
     mountFilter(node)
 
   if config.relay:
-    waitFor mountRelay(node, config.topics.split(" "))
+    mountRelay(node, config.topics.split(" "))
 
   if config.staticnodesv2.len > 0:
     waitFor connectToNodes(node, config.staticnodesv2)
diff --git a/waku/v2/node/jsonrpc/relay_api.nim b/waku/v2/node/jsonrpc/relay_api.nim
index 6cabe77cb..a1a6cfec4 100644
--- a/waku/v2/node/jsonrpc/relay_api.nim
+++ b/waku/v2/node/jsonrpc/relay_api.nim
@@ -70,45 +70,26 @@ proc installRelayApiHandlers*(node: WakuNode, rpcsrv: RpcServer, topicCache: Top
   rpcsrv.rpc("post_waku_v2_relay_v1_subscriptions") do(topics: seq[string]) -> bool:
     ## Subscribes a node to a list of PubSub topics
     debug "post_waku_v2_relay_v1_subscriptions"
-  
-    var failedTopics: seq[string]
 
     # Subscribe to all requested topics
     for topic in topics:
-      if not(await node.subscribe(topic, topicHandler).withTimeout(futTimeout)):
-        # If any topic fails to subscribe, add to list of failedTopics
-        failedTopics.add(topic)
-      else:
-        # Create message cache for this topic
-        debug "MessageCache for topic", topic=topic
-        topicCache[topic] = @[]
-
-    if (failedTopics.len() == 0):
-      # Successfully subscribed to all requested topics
-      return true
-    else:
-      # Failed to subscribe to one or more topics
-      raise newException(ValueError, "Failed to subscribe to topics " & repr(failedTopics))
+      node.subscribe(topic, topicHandler)      
+      # Create message cache for this topic
+      debug "MessageCache for topic", topic=topic
+      topicCache[topic] = @[]
+    
+    # Successfully subscribed to all requested topics
+    return true
 
   rpcsrv.rpc("delete_waku_v2_relay_v1_subscriptions") do(topics: seq[string]) -> bool:
     ## Unsubscribes a node from a list of PubSub topics
     debug "delete_waku_v2_relay_v1_subscriptions"
-   
-    var failedTopics: seq[string]
 
     # Unsubscribe all handlers from requested topics
     for topic in topics:
-      if not(await node.unsubscribeAll(topic).withTimeout(futTimeout)):
-        # If any topic fails to unsubscribe, add to list of failedTopics
-        failedTopics.add(topic)
-      else:
-        # Remove message cache for topic
-        topicCache.del(topic)
+      node.unsubscribeAll(topic)
+      # Remove message cache for topic
+      topicCache.del(topic)
 
-    if (failedTopics.len() == 0):
-      # Successfully unsubscribed from all requested topics
-      return true
-    else:
-      # Failed to unsubscribe from one or more topics
-      raise newException(ValueError, "Failed to unsubscribe from topics " & repr(failedTopics))
-    
+    # Successfully unsubscribed from all requested topics
+    return true 
diff --git a/waku/v2/node/rpc/wakurpc.nim b/waku/v2/node/rpc/wakurpc.nim
index 79b7a7310..cb16fb583 100644
--- a/waku/v2/node/rpc/wakurpc.nim
+++ b/waku/v2/node/rpc/wakurpc.nim
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ proc setupWakuRPC*(node: WakuNode, rpcsrv: RpcServer) =
         warn "waku_subscribe decode error", msg=msg
         info "waku_subscribe raw data string", str=cast[string](data)
 
-    # XXX: Can we make this context async to use await?
-    discard node.subscribe(topic, handler)
+    node.subscribe(topic, handler)
     return true
     #if not result:
     #  raise newException(ValueError, "Message could not be posted")
diff --git a/waku/v2/node/wakunode2.nim b/waku/v2/node/wakunode2.nim
index 7899bead7..3498c27e1 100644
--- a/waku/v2/node/wakunode2.nim
+++ b/waku/v2/node/wakunode2.nim
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ proc stop*(node: WakuNode) {.async.} =
 
   await node.switch.stop()
 
-proc subscribe*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic, handler: TopicHandler) {.async.} =
+proc subscribe*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic, handler: TopicHandler) =
   ## Subscribes to a PubSub topic. Triggers handler when receiving messages on
   ## this topic. TopicHandler is a method that takes a topic and some data.
   ##
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ proc subscribe*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic, handler: TopicHandler) {.async.} =
   info "subscribe", topic=topic
 
   let wakuRelay = node.wakuRelay
-  await wakuRelay.subscribe(topic, handler)
+  wakuRelay.subscribe(topic, handler)
 
 proc subscribe*(node: WakuNode, request: FilterRequest, handler: ContentFilterHandler) {.async, gcsafe.} =
   ## Registers for messages that match a specific filter. Triggers the handler whenever a message is received.
@@ -187,23 +187,23 @@ proc subscribe*(node: WakuNode, request: FilterRequest, handler: ContentFilterHa
 
   waku_node_filters.set(node.filters.len.int64)
 
-proc unsubscribe*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic, handler: TopicHandler) {.async.} =
+proc unsubscribe*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic, handler: TopicHandler) =
   ## Unsubscribes a handler from a PubSub topic.
   ##
   ## Status: Implemented.
   info "unsubscribe", topic=topic
 
   let wakuRelay = node.wakuRelay
-  await wakuRelay.unsubscribe(@[(topic, handler)])
+  wakuRelay.unsubscribe(@[(topic, handler)])
 
-proc unsubscribeAll*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic) {.async.} =
+proc unsubscribeAll*(node: WakuNode, topic: Topic) =
   ## Unsubscribes all handlers registered on a specific PubSub topic.
   ##
   ## Status: Implemented.
   info "unsubscribeAll", topic=topic
 
   let wakuRelay = node.wakuRelay
-  await wakuRelay.unsubscribeAll(topic)
+  wakuRelay.unsubscribeAll(topic)
   
 
 proc unsubscribe*(node: WakuNode, request: FilterRequest) {.async, gcsafe.} =
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ proc mountStore*(node: WakuNode, store: MessageStore = nil) =
   node.switch.mount(node.wakuStore)
   node.subscriptions.subscribe(WakuStoreCodec, node.wakuStore.subscription())
 
-proc mountRelay*(node: WakuNode, topics: seq[string] = newSeq[string](), rlnRelayEnabled: bool = false) {.async, gcsafe.} =
+proc mountRelay*(node: WakuNode, topics: seq[string] = newSeq[string](), rlnRelayEnabled: bool = false) {.gcsafe.} =
   # TODO add the RLN registration
   let wakuRelay = WakuRelay.init(
     switch = node.switch,
@@ -328,15 +328,13 @@ proc mountRelay*(node: WakuNode, topics: seq[string] = newSeq[string](), rlnRela
       await node.subscriptions.notify(topic, msg.value())
       waku_node_messages.inc(labelValues = ["relay"])
 
-  await node.wakuRelay.subscribe("/waku/2/default-waku/proto", relayHandler)
+  node.wakuRelay.subscribe("/waku/2/default-waku/proto", relayHandler)
 
   for topic in topics:
     proc handler(topic: string, data: seq[byte]) {.async, gcsafe.} =
       debug "Hit handler", topic=topic, data=data
 
-    # XXX: Is using discard here fine? Not sure if we want init to be async?
-    # Can also move this to the start proc, possibly wiser?
-    discard node.subscribe(topic, handler)
+    node.subscribe(topic, handler)
 
 ## Helpers
 proc dialPeer*(n: WakuNode, address: string) {.async.} =
@@ -495,7 +493,7 @@ when isMainModule:
     mountFilter(node)
 
   if conf.relay:
-    waitFor mountRelay(node, conf.topics.split(" "), rlnRelayEnabled = conf.rlnrelay)
+    mountRelay(node, conf.topics.split(" "), rlnRelayEnabled = conf.rlnrelay)
 
   if conf.staticnodes.len > 0:
     waitFor connectToNodes(node, conf.staticnodes)
diff --git a/waku/v2/protocol/waku_relay.nim b/waku/v2/protocol/waku_relay.nim
index ac7382eb3..46e0ee4e6 100644
--- a/waku/v2/protocol/waku_relay.nim
+++ b/waku/v2/protocol/waku_relay.nim
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ method initPubSub*(w: WakuRelay) =
 
 method subscribe*(w: WakuRelay,
                   pubSubTopic: string,
-                  handler: TopicHandler) {.async.} =
+                  handler: TopicHandler) =
   debug "subscribe", pubSubTopic=pubSubTopic
 
-  await procCall GossipSub(w).subscribe(pubSubTopic, handler)
+  procCall GossipSub(w).subscribe(pubSubTopic, handler)
 
 method publish*(w: WakuRelay,
                 pubSubTopic: string,
@@ -61,16 +61,16 @@ method publish*(w: WakuRelay,
   return await procCall GossipSub(w).publish(pubSubTopic, message)
 
 method unsubscribe*(w: WakuRelay,
-                    topics: seq[TopicPair]) {.async.} =
+                    topics: seq[TopicPair]) =
   debug "unsubscribe"
 
-  await procCall GossipSub(w).unsubscribe(topics)
+  procCall GossipSub(w).unsubscribe(topics)
 
 method unsubscribeAll*(w: WakuRelay,
-                       pubSubTopic: string) {.async.} =
+                       pubSubTopic: string) =
   debug "unsubscribeAll"
 
-  await procCall GossipSub(w).unsubscribeAll(pubSubTopic)
+  procCall GossipSub(w).unsubscribeAll(pubSubTopic)
 
 # GossipSub specific methods --------------------------------------------------
 method start*(w: WakuRelay) {.async.} =