diff --git a/shield/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/shield/license/ShieldLicenseState.java b/shield/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/shield/license/ShieldLicenseState.java
index 0fbb7602e14..5815014bf45 100644
--- a/shield/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/shield/license/ShieldLicenseState.java
+++ b/shield/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/shield/license/ShieldLicenseState.java
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ import org.elasticsearch.license.plugin.core.Licensee.Status;
  */
 public class ShieldLicenseState {
 
-    // if we start disabled then we can emit false disabled messages and block legitimate requests...
-    protected volatile Status status = new Status(OperationMode.TRIAL, LicenseState.ENABLED);
+    // we initialize the licensee status to enabled with trial operation mode to ensure no
+    // legitimate requests are blocked before initial license plugin notification
+    protected volatile Status status = Status.ENABLED;
 
     /**
      * @return true if the license allows for security features to be enabled (authc, authz, ip filter, audit, etc)
diff --git a/shield/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/shield/license/ShieldLicensee.java b/shield/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/shield/license/ShieldLicensee.java
index 797c4159092..32ea9a70b09 100644
--- a/shield/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/shield/license/ShieldLicensee.java
+++ b/shield/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/shield/license/ShieldLicensee.java
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.common.Strings;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.inject.Inject;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.settings.Settings;
 import org.elasticsearch.license.core.License;
-import org.elasticsearch.license.core.License.OperationMode;
 import org.elasticsearch.license.plugin.core.*;
 import org.elasticsearch.shield.ShieldPlugin;
 
@@ -25,16 +24,16 @@ public class ShieldLicensee extends AbstractLicenseeComponent<ShieldLicensee> im
     @Inject
     public ShieldLicensee(Settings settings, LicenseeRegistry clientService, ShieldLicenseState shieldLicenseState) {
         super(settings, ShieldPlugin.NAME, clientService);
-        add(new Listener() {
-            @Override
-            public void onChange(Status status) {
-                shieldLicenseState.updateStatus(status);
-            }
-        });
         this.shieldLicenseState = shieldLicenseState;
         this.isTribeNode = settings.getGroups("tribe", true).isEmpty() == false;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public void onChange(Status status) {
+        super.onChange(status);
+        shieldLicenseState.updateStatus(status);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public String[] expirationMessages() {
         return new String[] {
@@ -74,12 +73,11 @@ public class ShieldLicensee extends AbstractLicenseeComponent<ShieldLicensee> im
     }
 
     @Override
-    protected void doStart() throws ElasticsearchException {;
-        if (isTribeNode) {
-            //TODO currently we disable licensing on tribe node. remove this once es core supports merging cluster
-            this.status = new Status(OperationMode.TRIAL, LicenseState.ENABLED);
-            shieldLicenseState.updateStatus(status);
-        } else {
+    protected void doStart() throws ElasticsearchException {
+        // we rely on the initial licensee state to be enabled with trial operation mode
+        // to ensure no operation is blocked due to not registering the licensee on a
+        // tribe node
+        if (!isTribeNode) {
             super.doStart();
         }
     }