diff --git a/polkadot/collator/src/lib.rs b/polkadot/collator/src/lib.rs
index 0510a7f810..d2fcf0b861 100644
--- a/polkadot/collator/src/lib.rs
+++ b/polkadot/collator/src/lib.rs
@@ -83,12 +83,12 @@ pub trait Network: Send + Sync {
 	/// The returned stream will not terminate, so it is required to make sure that the stream is
 	/// dropped when it is not required anymore. Otherwise, it will stick around in memory
 	/// infinitely.
-	fn checked_statements(&self, relay_parent: Hash) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item=SignedStatement>>>;
+	fn checked_statements(&self, relay_parent: Hash) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item=SignedStatement> + Send>>;
 }
 
 impl Network for polkadot_network::protocol::Service {
-	fn checked_statements(&self, relay_parent: Hash) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item=SignedStatement>>> {
-		polkadot_network::protocol::Service::checked_statements(self, relay_parent)
+	fn checked_statements(&self, relay_parent: Hash) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item=SignedStatement> + Send>> {
+		polkadot_network::protocol::Service::checked_statements(self, relay_parent).boxed()
 	}
 }
 
@@ -241,12 +241,14 @@ fn build_collator_service<S, P, Extrinsic>(
 	let (service, handles) = service;
 	let spawner = service.spawn_task_handle();
 
-	let polkadot_network = match handles.polkadot_network {
-		None => return Err(
-			"Collator cannot run when Polkadot-specific networking has not been started".into()
-		),
-		Some(n) => n,
-	};
+	let polkadot_network = handles.polkadot_network
+		.ok_or_else(|| "Collator cannot run when Polkadot-specific networking has not been started")?;
+
+	// We don't require this here, but we need to make sure that the validation service is started.
+	// This service makes sure the collator is joining the correct gossip topics and receives the appropiate
+	// messages.
+	handles.validation_service_handle
+		.ok_or_else(|| "Collator cannot run when validation networking has not been started")?;
 
 	let client = service.client();
 
diff --git a/polkadot/network/src/protocol/mod.rs b/polkadot/network/src/protocol/mod.rs
index 7368dc338a..d9257650eb 100644
--- a/polkadot/network/src/protocol/mod.rs
+++ b/polkadot/network/src/protocol/mod.rs
@@ -1375,7 +1375,7 @@ impl<N: NetworkServiceOps> Service<N> {
 	/// Take care to drop the stream, as the sending side will not be cleaned
 	/// up until it is.
 	pub fn checked_statements(&self, relay_parent: Hash)
-		-> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = SignedStatement>>> {
+		-> impl Stream<Item = SignedStatement> + Send {
 		let (tx, rx) = oneshot::channel();
 		let mut sender = self.sender.clone();
 
@@ -1400,7 +1400,6 @@ impl<N: NetworkServiceOps> Service<N> {
 				}
 			})
 			.flatten_stream()
-			.boxed()
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/polkadot/service/src/lib.rs b/polkadot/service/src/lib.rs
index ca9af8e329..f27f19e1c7 100644
--- a/polkadot/service/src/lib.rs
+++ b/polkadot/service/src/lib.rs
@@ -320,9 +320,12 @@ pub fn westend_new_full(
 /// Handles to other sub-services that full nodes instantiate, which consumers
 /// of the node may use.
 #[cfg(feature = "full-node")]
+#[derive(Default)]
 pub struct FullNodeHandles {
 	/// A handle to the Polkadot networking protocol.
 	pub polkadot_network: Option<network_protocol::Service>,
+	/// A handle to the validation service.
+	pub validation_service_handle: Option<consensus::ServiceHandle>,
 }
 
 /// Builds a new service for a full client.
@@ -389,7 +392,7 @@ pub fn new_full<Runtime, Dispatch, Extrinsic>(
 	let client = service.client();
 	let known_oracle = client.clone();
 
-	let mut handles = FullNodeHandles { polkadot_network: None };
+	let mut handles = FullNodeHandles::default();
 	let select_chain = if let Some(select_chain) = service.select_chain() {
 		select_chain
 	} else {
@@ -427,7 +430,7 @@ pub fn new_full<Runtime, Dispatch, Extrinsic>(
 		service.spawn_task_handle(),
 	).map_err(|e| format!("Could not spawn network worker: {:?}", e))?;
 
-	if let Role::Authority { .. } = &role {
+	let authority_handles = if is_collator || role.is_authority() {
 		let availability_store = {
 			use std::path::PathBuf;
 
@@ -464,6 +467,18 @@ pub fn new_full<Runtime, Dispatch, Extrinsic>(
 
 		service.spawn_essential_task("validation-service", Box::pin(validation_service));
 
+		handles.validation_service_handle = Some(validation_service_handle.clone());
+
+		Some((validation_service_handle, availability_store))
+	} else {
+		None
+	};
+
+	if role.is_authority() {
+		let (validation_service_handle, availability_store) = authority_handles
+			.clone()
+			.expect("Authority handles are set for authority nodes; qed");
+
 		let proposer = consensus::ProposerFactory::new(
 			client.clone(),
 			service.transaction_pool(),