diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -231,7 +231,6 @@
 
 void BitcoinApplication::createOptionsModel(bool resetSettings) {
     optionsModel = new OptionsModel(nullptr, resetSettings);
-    optionsModel->setNode(node());
 }
 
 void BitcoinApplication::createWindow(const Config *config,
@@ -247,7 +246,6 @@
 void BitcoinApplication::createSplashScreen(const NetworkStyle *networkStyle) {
     assert(!m_splash);
     m_splash = new SplashScreen(networkStyle);
-    m_splash->setNode(node());
     // We don't hold a direct pointer to the splash screen after creation, but
     // the splash screen will take care of deleting itself when finish()
     // happens.
@@ -261,6 +259,12 @@
 void BitcoinApplication::setNode(interfaces::Node &node) {
     assert(!m_node);
     m_node = &node;
+    if (optionsModel) {
+        optionsModel->setNode(*m_node);
+    }
+    if (m_splash) {
+        m_splash->setNode(*m_node);
+    }
 }
 
 bool BitcoinApplication::baseInitialize(Config &config) {
@@ -553,7 +557,6 @@
 #endif
 
     BitcoinApplication app;
-    app.setNode(*node);
 
     // Register meta types used for QMetaObject::invokeMethod and
     // Qt::QueuedConnection
@@ -759,6 +762,8 @@
         app.createSplashScreen(networkStyle.data());
     }
 
+    app.setNode(*node);
+
     RPCServer rpcServer;
     util::Ref context{node_context};
     HTTPRPCRequestProcessor httpRPCRequestProcessor(config, rpcServer, context);
diff --git a/src/qt/splashscreen.h b/src/qt/splashscreen.h
--- a/src/qt/splashscreen.h
+++ b/src/qt/splashscreen.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
     int curAlignment;
 
     interfaces::Node *m_node = nullptr;
+    bool m_shutdown = false;
     std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> m_handler_init_message;
     std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> m_handler_show_progress;
     std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> m_handler_load_wallet;
diff --git a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
--- a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
@@ -152,9 +152,13 @@
     assert(!m_node);
     m_node = &node;
     subscribeToCoreSignals();
+    if (m_shutdown) {
+        m_node->startShutdown();
+    }
 }
 
 void SplashScreen::shutdown() {
+    m_shutdown = true;
     if (m_node) {
         m_node->startShutdown();
     }