diff --git a/supernode/cmd/start.go b/supernode/cmd/start.go
index be1c1c15..2ed3a04c 100644
--- a/supernode/cmd/start.go
+++ b/supernode/cmd/start.go
@@ -26,9 +26,7 @@ import (
 	hostReporterService "github.com/LumeraProtocol/supernode/v2/supernode/host_reporter"
 	statusService "github.com/LumeraProtocol/supernode/v2/supernode/status"
 	storageChallengeService "github.com/LumeraProtocol/supernode/v2/supernode/storage_challenge"
-	// Legacy supernode metrics reporter (MsgReportSupernodeMetrics) has been superseded by
-	// epoch-scoped audit reporting in `x/audit`.
-	// supernodeMetrics "github.com/LumeraProtocol/supernode/v2/supernode/supernode_metrics"
+	supernodeMetrics "github.com/LumeraProtocol/supernode/v2/supernode/supernode_metrics"
 	"github.com/LumeraProtocol/supernode/v2/supernode/transport/gateway"
 	cascadeRPC "github.com/LumeraProtocol/supernode/v2/supernode/transport/grpc/cascade"
 	server "github.com/LumeraProtocol/supernode/v2/supernode/transport/grpc/status"
@@ -173,18 +171,22 @@ The supernode will connect to the Lumera network and begin participating in the
 			logtrace.Fatal(ctx, "Failed to initialize host reporter", logtrace.Fields{"error": err.Error()})
 		}
 
-		// Legacy on-chain supernode metrics reporting has been superseded by `x/audit`.
-		// metricsCollector := supernodeMetrics.NewCollector(
-		// 	statusSvc,
-		// 	lumeraClient,
-		// 	appConfig.SupernodeConfig.Identity,
-		// 	Version,
-		// 	kr,
-		// 	appConfig.SupernodeConfig.Port,
-		// 	appConfig.P2PConfig.Port,
-		// 	appConfig.SupernodeConfig.GatewayPort,
-		// )
-		// logtrace.Info(ctx, "Metrics collection enabled", logtrace.Fields{})
+		// Legacy on-chain supernode metrics reporting (MsgReportSupernodeMetrics)
+		// runs alongside the audit epoch reporter. It is needed to recover
+		// POSTPONED supernodes via the supernode module's instant-recovery
+		// path so they appear ACTIVE in the next epoch anchor — which
+		// bootstraps the audit peer-observation cycle.
+		metricsCollector := supernodeMetrics.NewCollector(
+			statusSvc,
+			lumeraClient,
+			appConfig.SupernodeConfig.Identity,
+			Version,
+			kr,
+			appConfig.SupernodeConfig.Port,
+			appConfig.P2PConfig.Port,
+			appConfig.SupernodeConfig.GatewayPort,
+		)
+		logtrace.Info(ctx, "Legacy metrics collection enabled (audit bootstrap)", logtrace.Fields{})
 
 		// Storage challenge history DB (shared by the gRPC handler and runner).
 		historyStore, err := queries.OpenHistoryDB()
@@ -253,7 +255,7 @@ The supernode will connect to the Lumera network and begin participating in the
 		// Start the services using the standard runner and capture exit
 		servicesErr := make(chan error, 1)
 		go func() {
-			services := []service{grpcServer, cService, p2pService, gatewayServer, hostReporter}
+			services := []service{grpcServer, cService, p2pService, gatewayServer, hostReporter, metricsCollector}
 			if storageChallengeRunner != nil {
 				services = append(services, storageChallengeRunner)
 			}