diff --git a/nodes/fabric-bridge/src/fabric_bridge_node.cpp b/nodes/fabric-bridge/src/fabric_bridge_node.cpp
index d8b39c2..127d446 100644
--- a/nodes/fabric-bridge/src/fabric_bridge_node.cpp
+++ b/nodes/fabric-bridge/src/fabric_bridge_node.cpp
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ void FabricBridgeNode::on_remove_reader(const std::string& port_id) {
 
 void FabricBridgeNode::process() {
     if (!worker_thread_.has_value() && start_requested_.load()) {
+        running_ = true;
         spdlog::info("Fabric-bridge: starting worker thread (mode={})", mode_ == FabricMode::Initiator ? "initiator" : "target");
         if (mode_ == FabricMode::Initiator) {
             worker_thread_ = std::thread(&FabricBridgeNode::run_initiator, this);