diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ba719856f932d6bdcfa58fc68e5e4fea216fad14..ce53c4c08fae65428934ba1edef6cb40c02b5914 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -41,16 +41,13 @@ MongoDB can be installed on the same system as RocketChat or on a separate
 system. The default config in the RocketChat package expects a local
 installation of MongoDB.
 
-Enable the mongodb.org Debian repo, install the `mongodb-org` package, enable
-and start the `mongod` service:
+Enable the mongodb.org Debian repo and install the `mongodb-org` package:
 
 ```sh
 wget https://www.mongodb.org/static/pgp/server-4.2.asc -O /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/mongodb.asc
 echo "deb http://repo.mongodb.org/apt/debian buster/mongodb-org/4.2 main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mongodb.list
 apt update
 apt install mongodb-org
-systemctl enable mongod
-systemctl start mongod
 ```
 
 Note: At the time of writing there is no repo for Debian Bullseye on
@@ -61,7 +58,9 @@ Configure the replica set, start MongoDB and initialize the replica set:
 
 ```sh
 printf 'replication:\n  replSetName: "rs01"\n' >> /etc/mongod.conf
+systemctl enable mongod
 systemctl start mongod
+sleep 10
 mongo --eval 'rs.initiate()'
 ```