diff --git a/jetty-websocket/websocket-javax-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/websocket/javax/client/internal/JavaxWebSocketClientContainer.java b/jetty-websocket/websocket-javax-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/websocket/javax/client/internal/JavaxWebSocketClientContainer.java
index f96863b22685..d6e521dc4874 100644
--- a/jetty-websocket/websocket-javax-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/websocket/javax/client/internal/JavaxWebSocketClientContainer.java
+++ b/jetty-websocket/websocket-javax-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/websocket/javax/client/internal/JavaxWebSocketClientContainer.java
@@ -60,7 +60,13 @@ public class JavaxWebSocketClientContainer extends JavaxWebSocketContainer imple
     public JavaxWebSocketClientContainer()
     {
         this(new WebSocketComponents());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void doStart() throws Exception
+    {
         ShutdownThread.register(this);
+        super.doStart();
     }
 
     @Override