diff --git a/cmd/statusd/main.go b/cmd/statusd/main.go
index 3e2c8f363..d3b0a34a6 100644
--- a/cmd/statusd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/statusd/main.go
@@ -257,7 +257,9 @@ func makeNodeConfig() (*params.NodeConfig, error) {
 		nodeConfig.ClusterConfig.BootNodes = nil
 	}
 
-	nodeConfig.ClusterConfig.RendezvousNodes = []string(rendezvousNodes)
+	if len(rendezvousNodes) > 0 {
+		nodeConfig.ClusterConfig.RendezvousNodes = []string(rendezvousNodes)
+	}
 	nodeConfig.NoDiscovery = !(*discoveryFlag)
 	nodeConfig.Rendezvous = *rendezvous
 	nodeConfig.RequireTopics = map[discv5.Topic]params.Limits(searchTopics)
diff --git a/node/status_node.go b/node/status_node.go
index 554b604b9..26573b8f8 100644
--- a/node/status_node.go
+++ b/node/status_node.go
@@ -122,6 +122,8 @@ func (n *StatusNode) Start(config *params.NodeConfig, services ...node.ServiceCo
 	n.mu.Lock()
 	defer n.mu.Unlock()
 
+	n.log.Debug("starting with NodeConfig", "ClusterConfig", config.ClusterConfig)
+
 	if n.isRunning() {
 		return ErrNodeRunning
 	}