diff --git a/activation/activation.go b/activation/activation.go
index 3695ad06e7..d2a07efe2c 100644
--- a/activation/activation.go
+++ b/activation/activation.go
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ type Builder struct {
 	layerClock        layerClock
 	syncer            syncer
 	logger            *zap.Logger
-	parentCtx         context.Context
 	poets             []PoetService
 	poetCfg           PoetConfig
 	poetRetryInterval time.Duration
@@ -139,14 +138,6 @@ func WithPoetRetryInterval(interval time.Duration) BuilderOption {
 	}
 }
 
-// WithContext modifies parent context for background job.
-func WithContext(ctx context.Context) BuilderOption {
-	return func(b *Builder) {
-		// TODO(mafa): fix this
-		b.parentCtx = ctx // nolint:fatcontext
-	}
-}
-
 // WithPoetConfig sets the poet config.
 func WithPoetConfig(c PoetConfig) BuilderOption {
 	return func(b *Builder) {
@@ -192,7 +183,6 @@ func NewBuilder(
 	opts ...BuilderOption,
 ) *Builder {
 	b := &Builder{
-		parentCtx:         context.Background(),
 		signers:           make(map[types.NodeID]*signing.EdSigner),
 		conf:              conf,
 		db:                db,
@@ -228,7 +218,13 @@ func (b *Builder) Register(sig *signing.EdSigner) {
 	b.postStates.Set(sig.NodeID(), types.PostStateIdle)
 
 	if b.stop != nil {
-		b.startID(b.parentCtx, sig)
+		ctx, stop := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		prevStop := b.stop
+		b.stop = func() {
+			prevStop()
+			stop()
+		}
+		b.startID(ctx, sig)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -268,9 +264,8 @@ func (b *Builder) StartSmeshing(coinbase types.Address) error {
 	}
 
 	b.coinbaseAccount = coinbase
-	ctx, stop := context.WithCancel(b.parentCtx)
+	ctx, stop := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	b.stop = stop
-
 	for _, sig := range b.signers {
 		b.startID(ctx, sig)
 	}
diff --git a/activation/poet.go b/activation/poet.go
index 4d8530f5d2..9d6541eb3e 100644
--- a/activation/poet.go
+++ b/activation/poet.go
@@ -462,7 +462,10 @@ func NewPoetServiceWithClient(
 		opt(service)
 	}
 
-	err := service.verifyPhaseShiftConfiguration(context.Background())
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Second*30)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	err := service.verifyPhaseShiftConfiguration(ctx)
 	switch {
 	case errors.Is(err, errIncompatiblePhaseShift):
 		logger.Fatal("failed to create poet service", zap.String("poet", client.Address()))
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index 3148485542..59a3045417 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -1126,7 +1126,6 @@ func (app *App) initServices(ctx context.Context) error {
 		app.clock,
 		syncer,
 		app.addLogger(ATXBuilderLogger, lg).Zap(),
-		activation.WithContext(ctx),
 		activation.WithPoetConfig(app.Config.POET),
 		// TODO(dshulyak) makes no sense. how we ended using it?
 		activation.WithPoetRetryInterval(app.Config.HARE3.PreroundDelay),