diff --git a/daemons/ganeti-watcher b/daemons/ganeti-watcher
index 6346f07c25782dd94e9c23d9880be85aadf72de1..4f8eb935af065215960ccc9f76cb857a6482eb09 100755
--- a/daemons/ganeti-watcher
+++ b/daemons/ganeti-watcher
@@ -486,6 +486,8 @@ def main():
   try:
     # on master or not, try to start the node dameon
     EnsureDaemon(constants.NODED)
+    # start confd as well. On non candidates it will be in disabled mode.
+    EnsureDaemon(constants.CONFD)
 
     notepad = WatcherState()
     try: