diff --git a/tests/fixture/e2e/env.go b/tests/fixture/e2e/env.go
index 6f359b499ef0..694ff2af6f5c 100644
--- a/tests/fixture/e2e/env.go
+++ b/tests/fixture/e2e/env.go
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ func (te *TestEnvironment) Marshal() []byte {
 func NewTestEnvironment(tc tests.TestContext, flagVars *FlagVars, desiredNetwork *tmpnet.Network) *TestEnvironment {
 	require := require.New(tc)
 
+	// Start collectors for any command but stop
+	if flagVars.StartCollectors() && !flagVars.StopNetwork() {
+		require.NoError(tmpnet.StartCollectors(tc.DefaultContext(), tc.Log()))
+	}
+
 	var network *tmpnet.Network
 	// Need to load the network if it is being stopped or reused
 	if flagVars.StopNetwork() || flagVars.ReuseNetwork() {
@@ -130,10 +135,6 @@ func NewTestEnvironment(tc tests.TestContext, flagVars *FlagVars, desiredNetwork
 		}
 	}
 
-	if flagVars.StartCollectors() {
-		require.NoError(tmpnet.StartCollectors(tc.DefaultContext(), tc.Log()))
-	}
-
 	// Start a new network
 	if network == nil {
 		network = desiredNetwork
@@ -151,6 +152,11 @@ func NewTestEnvironment(tc tests.TestContext, flagVars *FlagVars, desiredNetwork
 		)
 	}
 
+	// Once one or more nodes are running it should be safe to wait for promtail to report readiness
+	if flagVars.StartCollectors() {
+		require.NoError(tmpnet.WaitForPromtailReadiness(tc.DefaultContext(), tc.Log()))
+	}
+
 	if flagVars.StartNetwork() {
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
diff --git a/tests/fixture/tmpnet/monitor_processes.go b/tests/fixture/tmpnet/monitor_processes.go
index ebcf53b0c4f9..639c053f637e 100644
--- a/tests/fixture/tmpnet/monitor_processes.go
+++ b/tests/fixture/tmpnet/monitor_processes.go
@@ -63,16 +63,9 @@ func StartCollectors(ctx context.Context, log logging.Logger) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Wait for readiness. These checks are performed separately from start to
-	// minimize time to readiness.
-	readinessURLs := map[string]string{
-		promtailCmd:   promtailReadinessURL,
-		prometheusCmd: prometheusReadinessURL,
-	}
-	for cmdName, readinessURLs := range readinessURLs {
-		if err := waitForReadiness(ctx, log, cmdName, readinessURLs); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+	log.Info("skipping promtail readiness check until one or more nodes have written their service discovery configuration")
+	if err := waitForReadiness(ctx, log, prometheusCmd, prometheusReadinessURL); err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
 	log.Info("To stop: tmpnetctl stop-collectors")
@@ -80,6 +73,12 @@ func StartCollectors(ctx context.Context, log logging.Logger) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// WaitForPromtailReadiness waits until prometheus is ready. It can only succeed after
+// one or more nodes have written their service discovery configuration.
+func WaitForPromtailReadiness(ctx context.Context, log logging.Logger) error {
+	return waitForReadiness(ctx, log, promtailCmd, promtailReadinessURL)
+}
+
 // EnsureCollectorsStopped ensures collectors are not running.
 func StopCollectors(ctx context.Context, log logging.Logger) error {
 	if _, ok := ctx.Deadline(); !ok {
@@ -354,7 +353,7 @@ func getPrometheusURL() string {
 }
 
 func getLokiURL() string {
-	return GetEnvWithDefault("LOKI_URL", defaultPrometheusURL)
+	return GetEnvWithDefault("LOKI_URL", defaultLokiURL)
 }
 
 // getCollectorCredentials retrieves the username and password for the command.
@@ -488,9 +487,7 @@ func waitForReadiness(ctx context.Context, log logging.Logger, cmdName string, r
 	}); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	log.Info(cmdName+" ready",
-		zap.String("url", readinessURL),
-	)
+	log.Info(cmdName + " ready")
 	return nil
 }