diff --git a/dcrdtest/node.go b/dcrdtest/node.go
index 6666a8e..83b040a 100644
--- a/dcrdtest/node.go
+++ b/dcrdtest/node.go
@@ -330,8 +330,10 @@ func (n *node) start(ctx context.Context) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	n.wg.Add(1)
 	earlyShutdown := make(chan error, 1)
 	go func() {
+		defer n.wg.Done()
 		_, err := cmd.Process.Wait()
 		earlyShutdown <- err
 	}()