diff --git a/pkg/network/server.go b/pkg/network/server.go
index 0e919cbdd..b97cf2dd1 100644
--- a/pkg/network/server.go
+++ b/pkg/network/server.go
@@ -138,6 +138,9 @@ type (
 		stateSync StateSync
 
 		log *zap.Logger
+
+		// started used to Start and Shutdown server only once.
+		started atomic.Bool
 	}
 
 	peerDrop struct {
@@ -262,8 +265,12 @@ func (s *Server) ID() uint32 {
 }
 
 // Start will start the server and its underlying transport. Calling it twice
-// is an error. Caller should wait for Start to finish for normal server operation.
+// is a no-op. Caller should wait for Start to finish for normal server operation.
 func (s *Server) Start() {
+	if !s.started.CompareAndSwap(false, true) {
+		s.log.Info("node server already started")
+		return
+	}
 	s.log.Info("node started",
 		zap.Uint32("blockHeight", s.chain.BlockHeight()),
 		zap.Uint32("headerHeight", s.chain.HeaderHeight()))
@@ -288,9 +295,12 @@ func (s *Server) Start() {
 	go s.run()
 }
 
-// Shutdown disconnects all peers and stops listening. Calling it twice is an error,
+// Shutdown disconnects all peers and stops listening. Calling it twice is a no-op,
 // once stopped the same intance of the Server can't be started again by calling Start.
 func (s *Server) Shutdown() {
+	if !s.started.CompareAndSwap(true, false) {
+		return
+	}
 	s.log.Info("shutting down server", zap.Int("peers", s.PeerCount()))
 	for _, tr := range s.transports {
 		tr.Close()
diff --git a/pkg/network/server_test.go b/pkg/network/server_test.go
index 7dbce881d..c1b5d96dc 100644
--- a/pkg/network/server_test.go
+++ b/pkg/network/server_test.go
@@ -96,10 +96,12 @@ func TestServerStartAndShutdown(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return 1 == s.PeerCount() }, time.Second, time.Millisecond*10)
 
 		assert.True(t, s.transports[0].(*fakeTransp).started.Load())
+		require.True(t, s.started.Load())
 		assert.Nil(t, s.txCallback)
 
 		s.Shutdown()
 
+		require.False(t, s.started.Load())
 		require.True(t, s.transports[0].(*fakeTransp).closed.Load())
 		err, ok := p.droppedWith.Load().(error)
 		require.True(t, ok)
@@ -115,11 +117,34 @@ func TestServerStartAndShutdown(t *testing.T) {
 		s.register <- p
 
 		assert.True(t, s.services["fake"].(*fakeConsensus).started.Load())
+		require.True(t, s.started.Load())
 
 		s.Shutdown()
 
+		require.False(t, s.started.Load())
 		require.True(t, s.services["fake"].(*fakeConsensus).stopped.Load())
 	})
+	t.Run("double start", func(t *testing.T) {
+		s := newTestServer(t, ServerConfig{})
+		startWithCleanup(t, s)
+
+		// Attempt to start the server again.
+		s.Start()
+
+		require.True(t, s.started.Load(), "server should still be marked as started after second Start call")
+	})
+	t.Run("double shutdown", func(t *testing.T) {
+		s := newTestServer(t, ServerConfig{})
+		s.Start()
+		require.True(t, s.started.Load(), "server should still be marked as started after second Start call")
+		s.Shutdown()
+
+		require.False(t, s.started.Load(), "server should be marked as not started after second Shutdown call")
+		// Attempt to shutdown the server again.
+		s.Shutdown()
+		// Verify the server state remains unchanged and is still considered shutdown.
+		require.False(t, s.started.Load(), "server should remain shutdown after second call")
+	})
 }
 
 func TestServerRegisterPeer(t *testing.T) {