diff --git a/lading/src/blackhole/tcp_rr.rs b/lading/src/blackhole/tcp_rr.rs
index b81fc513c..330a9331b 100644
--- a/lading/src/blackhole/tcp_rr.rs
+++ b/lading/src/blackhole/tcp_rr.rs
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ impl TcpRr {
                 .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
         );
 
+        let mut handles = Vec::with_capacity(num_threads as usize);
         let metrics_handle = {
             let tm = Arc::clone(&thread_metrics);
             let labels = self.metric_labels.clone();
@@ -169,6 +170,7 @@ impl TcpRr {
                 metrics::run_metrics_thread(&tm, &labels, &flag);
             })
         };
+        handles.push(metrics_handle);
 
         // Pre-build thread 0's listener here so the BPF program is attached
         // to the reuseport group before any other thread calls bind(). This
@@ -192,7 +194,6 @@ impl TcpRr {
         // instead of hanging forever.
         let (ready_tx, mut ready_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel::<()>();
 
-        let mut handles = Vec::with_capacity(num_threads as usize);
         let mut thread0_listener = thread0_listener;
         for i in 0..num_threads {
             let request_size = self.config.request_size.get();
@@ -250,8 +251,6 @@ impl TcpRr {
             .expect("failed to set control listener nonblocking");
         info!("control port listening on {control_addr}, waiting for generator");
 
-        handles.push(metrics_handle);
-
         // Accept with shutdown awareness: poll accept in a loop.
         let flag = Arc::clone(&shutdown_flag);
         let shutdown_clone = self.shutdown.clone();
@@ -260,31 +259,31 @@ impl TcpRr {
             flag.store(true, Relaxed);
         });
         let mut generator_connected = false;
-        loop {
+        let controller_err = loop {
             if shutdown_flag.load(Relaxed) {
                 info!("shutdown before generator connected");
-                break;
+                break Ok(());
             }
             match control_listener.accept() {
                 Ok((_conn, peer)) => {
                     info!("generator connected from {peer}, data threads running");
                     generator_connected = true;
-                    break;
+                    break Ok(());
                 }
                 Err(ref e) if e.kind() == ErrorKind::WouldBlock => {
                     tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
                 }
                 Err(e) => {
-                    return Err(Error::Bind {
+                    break Err(Error::Bind {
                         addr: control_addr,
                         source: Box::new(e),
                     });
                 }
             }
-        }
+        };
         drop(control_listener);
 
-        if generator_connected {
+        if controller_err.is_ok() && generator_connected {
             self.shutdown.recv().await;
             info!("shutdown signal received");
         }
@@ -292,7 +291,7 @@ impl TcpRr {
 
         thread::join_all(handles).map_err(|()| Error::ThreadPanicked)?;
 
-        Ok(())
+        controller_err
     }
 }