diff --git a/benchmarks/codex/config.py b/benchmarks/codex/config.py
index 3f02233..c2688f4 100644
--- a/benchmarks/codex/config.py
+++ b/benchmarks/codex/config.py
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ class CodexExperimentConfig(
                             seed=random.randint(0, 2**16),
                             meta=CodexMeta(f"dataset-{seeder_set}-{experiment_run}"),
                             logging_cooldown=self.logging_cooldown,
+                            stagger_delay=self.stagger_delay,
                         )
                     )
 
diff --git a/benchmarks/core/experiments/dissemination_experiment/config.py b/benchmarks/core/experiments/dissemination_experiment/config.py
index fcc424a..1d969e1 100644
--- a/benchmarks/core/experiments/dissemination_experiment/config.py
+++ b/benchmarks/core/experiments/dissemination_experiment/config.py
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ class DisseminationExperimentConfig(ConfigModel, Generic[TNodeConfig, TNodeSetCo
         description="Time to wait after the last download completes before tearing down the experiment.",
     )
 
+    stagger_delay: float = Field(
+        ge=0,
+        default=0,
+        description="Delay in seconds between starting each leecher (0 = simultaneous).",
+    )
+
     @computed_field  # type: ignore
     @property
     def experiment_type(self) -> str:
diff --git a/benchmarks/core/experiments/dissemination_experiment/static.py b/benchmarks/core/experiments/dissemination_experiment/static.py
index 4b05049..992fd3f 100644
--- a/benchmarks/core/experiments/dissemination_experiment/static.py
+++ b/benchmarks/core/experiments/dissemination_experiment/static.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class StaticDisseminationExperiment(
         seed: int,
         concurrency: Optional[int] = None,
         logging_cooldown: int = 0,
+        stagger_delay: float = 0,
         experiment_id: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> None:
         self.nodes = network
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ class StaticDisseminationExperiment(
         )
         self._cid: Optional[TNetworkHandle] = None
         self.logging_cooldown = logging_cooldown
+        self.stagger_delay = stagger_delay
 
     def experiment_id(self) -> Optional[str]:
         return self._experiment_id
@@ -77,14 +79,19 @@ class StaticDisseminationExperiment(
                 f"Setting up leechers: {[str(leecher) for leecher in leechers]}"
             )
 
-            def _leech(leecher):
+            def _leech(leecher, delay):
+                if delay > 0:
+                    sleep(delay)
                 _log_request(leecher, "leech", str(self.meta), EventBoundary.start)
                 download = leecher.leech(self._cid)
                 _log_request(leecher, "leech", str(self.meta), EventBoundary.end)
                 return download
 
             downloads = ensure_successful(
-                [self._executor.submit(_leech, leecher) for leecher in leechers]
+                [
+                    self._executor.submit(_leech, leecher, i * self.stagger_delay)
+                    for i, leecher in enumerate(leechers)
+                ]
             )
 
         with experiment_stage(self, "downloading"):
diff --git a/config/codex/experiments.k8s.yaml b/config/codex/experiments.k8s.yaml
index e4c32d2..bc05ba5 100644
--- a/config/codex/experiments.k8s.yaml
+++ b/config/codex/experiments.k8s.yaml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ codex_experiment:
   remove_data: ${REMOVE_DATA}
   # No need for cooldown as Codex takes forever to remove files, so there's plenty of time to log stuff. :-)
   logging_cooldown: 0
+  stagger_delay: ${STAGGER_DELAY}
 
   nodes:
     network_size: ${NETWORK_SIZE}
diff --git a/k8s/charts/codex/templates/testrunner-job.yaml b/k8s/charts/codex/templates/testrunner-job.yaml
index 2ceb34d..75f26b9 100644
--- a/k8s/charts/codex/templates/testrunner-job.yaml
+++ b/k8s/charts/codex/templates/testrunner-job.yaml
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ spec:
               valueFrom:
                 fieldRef:
                   fieldPath: metadata.namespace
+            - name: STAGGER_DELAY
+              value: {{ .Values.experiment.staggerDelay | quote }}
 
           resources:
             requests:
diff --git a/k8s/charts/codex/values.yaml b/k8s/charts/codex/values.yaml
index d24a70f..99bc418 100644
--- a/k8s/charts/codex/values.yaml
+++ b/k8s/charts/codex/values.yaml
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ experiment:
   # than deleting it, but requires more space.
   removeData: true
 
+  # Delay in seconds between starting each leecher (0 = simultaneous).
+  staggerDelay: 0
+
 deployment:
   appName: ""