diff --git a/examples/Bluetooth_5/NimBLE_extended_server/main/main.cpp b/examples/Bluetooth_5/NimBLE_extended_server/main/main.cpp
index a19b49ea..719b44d8 100644
--- a/examples/Bluetooth_5/NimBLE_extended_server/main/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/Bluetooth_5/NimBLE_extended_server/main/main.cpp
@@ -80,9 +80,6 @@ extern "C" void app_main(void) {
 
     pCharacteristic->setValue("Hello World");
 
-    /** Start the service */
-    pService->start();
-
     /**
      *  Create an extended advertisement with the instance ID 0 and set the PHY's.
      *  Multiple instances can be added as long as the instance ID is incremented.
diff --git a/examples/Bluetooth_5/NimBLE_multi_advertiser/main/main.cpp b/examples/Bluetooth_5/NimBLE_multi_advertiser/main/main.cpp
index 3322e543..3752570f 100644
--- a/examples/Bluetooth_5/NimBLE_multi_advertiser/main/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/Bluetooth_5/NimBLE_multi_advertiser/main/main.cpp
@@ -98,9 +98,6 @@ extern "C" void app_main(void) {
 
     pCharacteristic->setValue("Hello World");
 
-    /** Start the service */
-    pService->start();
-
     /** Create our multi advertising instances */
 
     /** extended scannable instance advertising on coded and 1m PHY's. */
diff --git a/examples/NimBLE_Server/main/main.cpp b/examples/NimBLE_Server/main/main.cpp
index 7f8d2650..d2b76533 100644
--- a/examples/NimBLE_Server/main/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/NimBLE_Server/main/main.cpp
@@ -184,10 +184,6 @@ extern "C" void app_main(void) {
     pC01Ddsc->setValue("Send it back!");
     pC01Ddsc->setCallbacks(&dscCallbacks);
 
-    /** Start the services when finished creating all Characteristics and Descriptors */
-    pDeadService->start();
-    pBaadService->start();
-
     /** Create an advertising instance and add the services to the advertised data */
     NimBLEAdvertising* pAdvertising = NimBLEDevice::getAdvertising();
     pAdvertising->setName("NimBLE-Server");
diff --git a/src/NimBLEAdvertising.cpp b/src/NimBLEAdvertising.cpp
index a93e9eef..53ec2235 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEAdvertising.cpp
+++ b/src/NimBLEAdvertising.cpp
@@ -197,8 +197,9 @@ bool NimBLEAdvertising::start(uint32_t duration, const NimBLEAddress* dirAddr) {
 
 # if MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_ROLE_PERIPHERAL)
     NimBLEServer* pServer = NimBLEDevice::getServer();
-    if (pServer != nullptr) {
-        pServer->start(); // make sure the GATT server is ready before advertising
+    if (pServer != nullptr && !pServer->start()) { // make sure the GATT server is ready before advertising
+        NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "Failed to start GATT server");
+        return false;
     }
 # endif
 
diff --git a/src/NimBLEClient.cpp b/src/NimBLEClient.cpp
index 0ec9c83c..0b04dea2 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEClient.cpp
+++ b/src/NimBLEClient.cpp
@@ -1210,7 +1210,16 @@ int NimBLEClient::handleGapEvent(struct ble_gap_event* event, void* arg) {
                 break;
             }
 
-            if (event->passkey.params.action == BLE_SM_IOACT_NUMCMP) {
+            if (event->passkey.params.action == BLE_SM_IOACT_DISP) {
+                struct ble_sm_io pkey = {0, 0};
+                pkey.action           = event->passkey.params.action;
+                pkey.passkey          = NimBLEDevice::getSecurityPasskey();
+                if (pkey.passkey == 123456) {
+                    pkey.passkey = pClient->m_pClientCallbacks->onPassKeyDisplay(peerInfo);
+                }
+                rc = ble_sm_inject_io(event->passkey.conn_handle, &pkey);
+                NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "BLE_SM_IOACT_DISP; ble_sm_inject_io result: %d", rc);
+            } else if (event->passkey.params.action == BLE_SM_IOACT_NUMCMP) {
                 NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "Passkey on device's display: %" PRIu32, event->passkey.params.numcmp);
                 pClient->m_pClientCallbacks->onConfirmPasskey(peerInfo, event->passkey.params.numcmp);
             } else if (event->passkey.params.action == BLE_SM_IOACT_OOB) {
@@ -1314,6 +1323,11 @@ void NimBLEClientCallbacks::onPassKeyEntry(NimBLEConnInfo& connInfo) {
     NimBLEDevice::injectPassKey(connInfo, 123456);
 } // onPassKeyEntry
 
+uint32_t NimBLEClientCallbacks::onPassKeyDisplay(NimBLEConnInfo& connInfo) {
+    NIMBLE_LOGD(CB_TAG, "onPassKeyDisplay: default");
+    return NimBLEDevice::getSecurityPasskey();
+} // onPassKeyDisplay
+
 void NimBLEClientCallbacks::onAuthenticationComplete(NimBLEConnInfo& connInfo) {
     NIMBLE_LOGD(CB_TAG, "onAuthenticationComplete: default");
 } // onAuthenticationComplete
diff --git a/src/NimBLEClient.h b/src/NimBLEClient.h
index 2dac6563..56cf7ae2 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEClient.h
+++ b/src/NimBLEClient.h
@@ -187,6 +187,13 @@ class NimBLEClientCallbacks {
      */
     virtual void onPassKeyEntry(NimBLEConnInfo& connInfo);
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Called when using passkey entry pairing and the passkey should be displayed.
+     * @param [in] connInfo A reference to a NimBLEConnInfo instance containing the peer info.
+     * @return The passkey to display to the user. The peer device must enter this passkey to complete the pairing.
+     */
+    virtual uint32_t onPassKeyDisplay(NimBLEConnInfo& connInfo);
+
     /**
      * @brief Called when the pairing procedure is complete.
      * @param [in] connInfo A reference to a NimBLEConnInfo instance containing the peer info.\n
diff --git a/src/NimBLECppVersion.h b/src/NimBLECppVersion.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fec436bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/NimBLECppVersion.h
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020-2025 Ryan Powell <ryan@nable-embedded.io> and
+ * esp-nimble-cpp, NimBLE-Arduino contributors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+#ifndef NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_H_
+#define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_H_
+
+/** @brief NimBLE-Arduino library major version number. */
+#define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_MAJOR 2
+
+/** @brief NimBLE-Arduino library minor version number. */
+#define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_MINOR 3
+
+/** @brief NimBLE-Arduino library patch version number. */
+#define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_PATCH 9
+
+/**
+ * @brief Macro to create a version number for comparison.
+ * @param major Major version number.
+ * @param minor Minor version number.
+ * @param patch Patch version number.
+ * @details Example usage:
+ * @code{.cpp}
+ * #if NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION >= NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_VAL(2, 0, 0)
+ *   // Using NimBLE-Arduino v2 or later
+ * #endif
+ * @endcode
+ */
+#define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_VAL(major, minor, patch) (((major) << 16) | ((minor) << 8) | (patch))
+
+/**
+ * @brief The library version as a single integer for compile-time comparison.
+ * @details Format: (major << 16) | (minor << 8) | patch
+ */
+#define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION \
+    NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_VAL(NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_MAJOR, NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_MINOR, NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_PATCH)
+
+/** @cond NIMBLE_CPP_INTERNAL */
+#define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_STRINGIFY_IMPL(x) #x
+#define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_STRINGIFY(x)      NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_STRINGIFY_IMPL(x)
+/** @endcond */
+
+/**
+ * @brief Optional Semantic Versioning prerelease suffix.
+ * @details Include the leading '-' when defined, for example: "-beta.1"
+ */
+#ifndef NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_PRERELEASE
+# define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_PRERELEASE ""
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * @brief Optional Semantic Versioning build metadata suffix.
+ * @details Include the leading '+' when defined, for example: "+sha.abcd1234"
+ */
+#ifndef NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_BUILD_METADATA
+# define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_BUILD_METADATA ""
+#endif
+
+/** @brief library version as a prefixed Semantic Versioning string. */
+#define NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_STR                         \
+    "NimBLE-CPP " \
+    NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_STRINGIFY(NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_MAJOR) "." \
+    NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_STRINGIFY(NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_MINOR) "." \
+    NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_STRINGIFY(NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_PATCH) \
+    NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_PRERELEASE NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_BUILD_METADATA
+
+#endif // NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_H_
diff --git a/src/NimBLEDevice.cpp b/src/NimBLEDevice.cpp
index cca52901..b26c1e92 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEDevice.cpp
+++ b/src/NimBLEDevice.cpp
@@ -122,9 +122,6 @@ extern "C" int ble_vhci_disc_duplicate_mode_enable(int mode);
 NimBLEServer* NimBLEDevice::createServer() {
     if (NimBLEDevice::m_pServer == nullptr) {
         NimBLEDevice::m_pServer = new NimBLEServer();
-        ble_gatts_reset();
-        ble_svc_gap_init();
-        ble_svc_gatt_init();
     }
 
     return m_pServer;
@@ -867,7 +864,7 @@ void NimBLEDevice::onSync(void) {
  * @brief The main host task.
  */
 void NimBLEDevice::host_task(void* param) {
-    NIMBLE_LOGI(LOG_TAG, "BLE Host Task Started");
+    NIMBLE_LOGI(LOG_TAG, "NimBLE Started!");
     nimble_port_run(); // This function will return only when nimble_port_stop() is executed
     nimble_port_freertos_deinit();
 } // host_task
@@ -878,6 +875,7 @@ void NimBLEDevice::host_task(void* param) {
  */
 bool NimBLEDevice::init(const std::string& deviceName) {
     if (!m_initialized) {
+        NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "Starting %s", getVersion());
 # ifdef ESP_PLATFORM
 
 #  if defined(CONFIG_ENABLE_ARDUINO_DEPENDS) && SOC_BT_SUPPORTED
@@ -999,6 +997,7 @@ bool NimBLEDevice::init(const std::string& deviceName) {
     }
 
     m_initialized = true; // Set the initialization flag to ensure we are only initialized once.
+    NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "Initialized");
     return true;
 } // init
 
@@ -1329,6 +1328,14 @@ std::string NimBLEDevice::toString() {
     return getAddress().toString();
 } // toString
 
+/**
+ * @brief Return the library version as a string.
+ * @return A const char* containing library version information.
+ */
+const char* NimBLEDevice::getVersion() {
+    return NIMBLE_CPP_VERSION_STR;
+} // getVersion
+
 # if MYNEWT_VAL(NIMBLE_CPP_DEBUG_ASSERT_ENABLED) || __DOXYGEN__
 /**
  * @brief Debug assert - weak function.
diff --git a/src/NimBLEDevice.h b/src/NimBLEDevice.h
index df63b3dc..211c05c3 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEDevice.h
+++ b/src/NimBLEDevice.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #ifndef NIMBLE_CPP_DEVICE_H_
 #define NIMBLE_CPP_DEVICE_H_
 
+#include "NimBLECppVersion.h"
 #include "syscfg/syscfg.h"
 #if CONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_ENABLED
 # ifdef ESP_PLATFORM
@@ -123,6 +124,7 @@ class NimBLEDevice {
     static bool          isInitialized();
     static NimBLEAddress getAddress();
     static std::string   toString();
+    static const char*   getVersion();
     static bool          whiteListAdd(const NimBLEAddress& address);
     static bool          whiteListRemove(const NimBLEAddress& address);
     static bool          onWhiteList(const NimBLEAddress& address);
diff --git a/src/NimBLEServer.cpp b/src/NimBLEServer.cpp
index d3d826ad..bcbec9a3 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEServer.cpp
+++ b/src/NimBLEServer.cpp
@@ -269,14 +269,18 @@ void NimBLEServer::gattRegisterCallback(ble_gatt_register_ctxt* ctxt, void* arg)
  * @details Required to be called after setup of all services and characteristics / descriptors
  * for the NimBLE host to register them.
  */
-void NimBLEServer::start() {
+bool NimBLEServer::start() {
     if (m_svcChanged && !getConnectedCount()) {
         NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "Services have changed since last start, resetting GATT server");
-        resetGATT();
+        m_gattsStarted = false;
     }
 
     if (m_gattsStarted) {
-        return; // already started
+        return true; // already started
+    }
+
+    if (!resetGATT()) {
+        return false;
     }
 
     ble_hs_cfg.gatts_register_cb = NimBLEServer::gattRegisterCallback;
@@ -286,7 +290,7 @@ void NimBLEServer::start() {
     int rc = ble_gatts_start();
     if (rc != 0) {
         NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "ble_gatts_start; rc=%d, %s", rc, NimBLEUtils::returnCodeToString(rc));
-        return;
+        return false;
     }
 
 # if MYNEWT_VAL(NIMBLE_CPP_LOG_LEVEL) >= 4
@@ -313,6 +317,7 @@ void NimBLEServer::start() {
     }
 
     m_gattsStarted = true;
+    return true;
 } // start
 
 /**
@@ -335,7 +340,7 @@ bool NimBLEServer::disconnect(uint16_t connHandle, uint8_t reason) const {
  * @brief Disconnect the specified client with optional reason.
  * @param [in] connInfo Connection of the client to disconnect.
  * @param [in] reason code for disconnecting.
- * @return NimBLE host return code.
+ * @return True if successful.
  */
 bool NimBLEServer::disconnect(const NimBLEConnInfo& connInfo, uint8_t reason) const {
     return disconnect(connInfo.getConnHandle(), reason);
@@ -505,7 +510,7 @@ int NimBLEServer::handleGapEvent(ble_gap_event* event, void* arg) {
 
             peerInfo.m_desc = event->disconnect.conn;
             pServer->m_pServerCallbacks->onDisconnect(pServer, peerInfo, event->disconnect.reason);
-# if !MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_EXT_ADV)
+# if !MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_EXT_ADV) && MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_ROLE_BROADCASTER)
             if (pServer->m_advertiseOnDisconnect) {
                 pServer->startAdvertising();
             }
@@ -684,6 +689,15 @@ int NimBLEServer::handleGapEvent(ble_gap_event* event, void* arg) {
                 // }
                 // rc = ble_sm_inject_io(event->passkey.conn_handle, &pkey);
                 // NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "BLE_SM_IOACT_OOB; ble_sm_inject_io result: %d", rc);
+            } else if (event->passkey.params.action == BLE_SM_IOACT_INPUT) {
+                NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "Enter the passkey");
+
+                rc = ble_gap_conn_find(event->passkey.conn_handle, &peerInfo.m_desc);
+                if (rc != 0) {
+                    return BLE_ATT_ERR_INVALID_HANDLE;
+                }
+
+                pServer->m_pServerCallbacks->onPassKeyEntry(peerInfo);
             } else if (event->passkey.params.action == BLE_SM_IOACT_NONE) {
                 NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "No passkey action required");
             }
@@ -854,8 +868,13 @@ void NimBLEServer::addService(NimBLEService* service) {
 
 /**
  * @brief Resets the GATT server, used when services are added/removed after initialization.
+ * @return True if successful.
+ * @details This will reset the GATT server and re-register all services, characteristics, and
+ * descriptors that have not been removed. Services, characteristics, and descriptors that have been
+ * removed but not deleted will be skipped and have their handles cleared, and those that have been
+ * deleted will be removed from the server's service vector.
  */
-void NimBLEServer::resetGATT() {
+bool NimBLEServer::resetGATT() {
 # if MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_ROLE_BROADCASTER)
     NimBLEDevice::stopAdvertising();
 # endif
@@ -864,8 +883,6 @@ void NimBLEServer::resetGATT() {
     ble_svc_gap_init();
     ble_svc_gatt_init();
 
-    m_gattsStarted = false;
-
     for (auto svcIt = m_svcVec.begin(); svcIt != m_svcVec.end();) {
         auto* pSvc = *svcIt;
         if (pSvc->getRemoved() == NIMBLE_ATT_REMOVE_DELETE) {
@@ -899,12 +916,17 @@ void NimBLEServer::resetGATT() {
         }
 
         if (pSvc->getRemoved() == 0) {
-            pSvc->start();
+            if (!pSvc->start_internal()) {
+                NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "Failed to start service: %s", pSvc->getUUID().toString().c_str());
+                return false;
+            }
         }
 
         pSvc->m_handle = 0;
         ++svcIt;
     }
+
+    return true;
 } // resetGATT
 
 /**
@@ -1119,6 +1141,11 @@ uint32_t NimBLEServerCallbacks::onPassKeyDisplay() {
     return 123456;
 } // onPassKeyDisplay
 
+void NimBLEServerCallbacks::onPassKeyEntry(NimBLEConnInfo& connInfo) {
+    NIMBLE_LOGD("NimBLEServerCallbacks", "onPassKeyEntry: default: 123456");
+    NimBLEDevice::injectPassKey(connInfo, 123456);
+} // onPassKeyEntry
+
 void NimBLEServerCallbacks::onConfirmPassKey(NimBLEConnInfo& connInfo, uint32_t pin) {
     NIMBLE_LOGD("NimBLEServerCallbacks", "onConfirmPasskey: default: true");
     NimBLEDevice::injectConfirmPasskey(connInfo, true);
diff --git a/src/NimBLEServer.h b/src/NimBLEServer.h
index 0177fcc6..7c998cb1 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEServer.h
+++ b/src/NimBLEServer.h
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class NimBLEClient;
  */
 class NimBLEServer {
   public:
-    void    start();
+    bool    start();
     uint8_t getConnectedCount() const;
     bool    disconnect(uint16_t connHandle, uint8_t reason = BLE_ERR_REM_USER_CONN_TERM) const;
     bool    disconnect(const NimBLEConnInfo& connInfo, uint8_t reason = BLE_ERR_REM_USER_CONN_TERM) const;
@@ -123,12 +123,12 @@ class NimBLEServer {
     static int  handleGattEvent(uint16_t connHandle, uint16_t attrHandle, ble_gatt_access_ctxt* ctxt, void* arg);
     static void gattRegisterCallback(struct ble_gatt_register_ctxt* ctxt, void* arg);
     void        serviceChanged();
-    void        resetGATT();
+    bool        resetGATT();
 
     bool m_gattsStarted : 1;
     bool m_svcChanged : 1;
     bool m_deleteCallbacks : 1;
-# if !MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_EXT_ADV)
+# if !MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_EXT_ADV) && MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_ROLE_BROADCASTER)
     bool m_advertiseOnDisconnect : 1;
 # endif
     NimBLEServerCallbacks*                                m_pServerCallbacks;
@@ -180,6 +180,15 @@ class NimBLEServerCallbacks {
      */
     virtual uint32_t onPassKeyDisplay();
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Called when using passkey entry pairing and the peer requires the passkey to be entered.
+     * @param [in] connInfo A reference to a NimBLEConnInfo instance with information
+     * about the peer connection parameters.
+     * @details The application should call NimBLEDevice::injectPassKey with the passkey
+     * displayed on the peer device to complete the pairing process.
+     */
+    virtual void onPassKeyEntry(NimBLEConnInfo& connInfo);
+
     /**
      * @brief Called when using numeric comparision for pairing.
      * @param [in] connInfo A reference to a NimBLEConnInfo instance with information
diff --git a/src/NimBLEService.cpp b/src/NimBLEService.cpp
index 47a6fb12..aebe59fd 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEService.cpp
+++ b/src/NimBLEService.cpp
@@ -83,22 +83,8 @@ void NimBLEService::dump() const {
  * and registers it with the NimBLE stack.
  * @return bool success/failure .
  */
-bool NimBLEService::start() {
+bool NimBLEService::start_internal() {
     NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, ">> start(): Starting service: UUID: %s", getUUID().toString().c_str());
-    // If the server has started before then we need to reset the GATT server
-    // to update the service/characteristic/descriptor definitions. If characteristics or descriptors
-    // have been added/removed since the last server start then this service will be started on gatt reset.
-    if (getServer()->m_svcChanged && getServer()->m_gattsStarted) {
-        NIMBLE_LOGW(LOG_TAG, "<< start(): GATT change pending, cannot start service");
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    // If started previously and no characteristics have been added or removed,
-    // then we can skip the service registration process.
-    if (m_pSvcDef->characteristics && !getServer()->m_svcChanged) {
-        return true;
-    }
-
     // Make sure the definitions are cleared first
     clearServiceDefinitions();
 
@@ -169,12 +155,14 @@ bool NimBLEService::start() {
     int rc = ble_gatts_count_cfg(m_pSvcDef);
     if (rc != 0) {
         NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "ble_gatts_count_cfg failed, rc= %d, %s", rc, NimBLEUtils::returnCodeToString(rc));
+        clearServiceDefinitions(); // Clear the definitions to free memory and reset the service for re-registration.
         return false;
     }
 
     rc = ble_gatts_add_svcs(m_pSvcDef);
     if (rc != 0) {
         NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "ble_gatts_add_svcs, rc= %d, %s", rc, NimBLEUtils::returnCodeToString(rc));
+        clearServiceDefinitions(); // Clear the definitions to free memory and reset the service for re-registration.
         return false;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/NimBLEService.h b/src/NimBLEService.h
index 58e91c70..dcbe1f94 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEService.h
+++ b/src/NimBLEService.h
@@ -37,11 +37,19 @@ class NimBLEService : public NimBLELocalAttribute {
     NimBLEService(const NimBLEUUID& uuid);
     ~NimBLEService();
 
-    NimBLEServer*         getServer() const;
-    std::string           toString() const;
-    void                  dump() const;
-    bool                  isStarted() const;
-    bool                  start();
+    NimBLEServer* getServer() const;
+    std::string   toString() const;
+    void          dump() const;
+    bool          isStarted() const;
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Dummy function to start the service. Services are started when the server is started.
+     * This will be removed in a future release. Use `NimBLEServer::start()` to start the server and all associated services.
+     */
+    __attribute__((deprecated("NimBLEService::start() has no effect. "
+                   "Services are started when the server is started.")))
+    bool start() { return true; }
+
     NimBLECharacteristic* createCharacteristic(const char* uuid,
                                                uint32_t    properties = NIMBLE_PROPERTY::READ | NIMBLE_PROPERTY::WRITE,
                                                uint16_t    max_len    = BLE_ATT_ATTR_MAX_LEN);
@@ -61,6 +69,7 @@ class NimBLEService : public NimBLELocalAttribute {
 
   private:
     friend class NimBLEServer;
+    bool start_internal();
     void clearServiceDefinitions();
 
     std::vector<NimBLECharacteristic*> m_vChars{};
diff --git a/src/NimBLEStream.cpp b/src/NimBLEStream.cpp
index 3e276a28..3b72ace5 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEStream.cpp
+++ b/src/NimBLEStream.cpp
@@ -608,6 +608,8 @@ bool NimBLEStreamServer::begin(
         return false;
     }
 
+    m_deleteSvcOnEnd = true; // mark service for deletion on end since we created it here
+
     // Create characteristic with notify + write properties for bidirectional stream
     uint32_t props = 0;
     if (txBufSize > 0) {
@@ -630,13 +632,6 @@ bool NimBLEStreamServer::begin(
         goto error;
     }
 
-    m_deleteSvcOnEnd = true; // mark service for deletion on end since we created it here
-
-    if (!pSvc->start()) {
-        NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "Failed to start service");
-        goto error;
-    }
-
     if (!begin(pChr, txBufSize, rxBufSize)) {
         NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "Failed to initialize stream with characteristic");
         goto error;