diff --git a/command/server.go b/command/server.go
index 661264dce0e2..35ced21ffd8c 100644
--- a/command/server.go
+++ b/command/server.go
@@ -1711,7 +1711,7 @@ func (c *ServerCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 				sr.NotifyConfigurationReload(srConfig)
 			}
 
-			if err := core.ReloadCensus(); err != nil {
+			if err := core.ReloadCensusManager(); err != nil {
 				c.UI.Error(err.Error())
 			}
 
diff --git a/vault/activity_log.go b/vault/activity_log.go
index 9aab39684be0..28a56d44e92d 100644
--- a/vault/activity_log.go
+++ b/vault/activity_log.go
@@ -1016,7 +1016,8 @@ func (a *ActivityLog) SetConfigInit(config activityConfig) {
 	a.defaultReportMonths = config.DefaultReportMonths
 	a.retentionMonths = config.RetentionMonths
 
-	if a.retentionMonths < a.configOverrides.MinimumRetentionMonths {
+	// Let tests override the minimum if they want to.
+	if a.configOverrides.MinimumRetentionMonths > 0 {
 		a.retentionMonths = a.configOverrides.MinimumRetentionMonths
 	}
 
diff --git a/vault/census.go b/vault/census.go
index e492ac2c88c3..fc1cf2b10851 100644
--- a/vault/census.go
+++ b/vault/census.go
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ func (c *Core) setupCensusManager() error                        { return nil }
 func (c *Core) BillingStart() time.Time                          { return time.Time{} }
 func (c *Core) AutomatedLicenseReportingEnabled() bool           { return false }
 func (c *Core) CensusAgent() CensusReporter                      { return nil }
-func (c *Core) ReloadCensus() error                              { return nil }
 func (c *Core) teardownCensusManager() error                     { return nil }
 func (c *Core) StartManualCensusSnapshots()                      {}
 func (c *Core) ManualLicenseReportingEnabled() bool              { return false }
diff --git a/vault/census_stubs_oss.go b/vault/census_stubs_oss.go
index 3cf43c495bf7..0b5b1c11f0e6 100644
--- a/vault/census_stubs_oss.go
+++ b/vault/census_stubs_oss.go
@@ -10,4 +10,5 @@ import "context"
 //go:generate go run github.com/hashicorp/vault/tools/stubmaker
 
 func (c *Core) StartCensusReports(ctx context.Context) {}
-func (c *Core) ReloadCensusActivityLog() error         { return nil }
+func (c *Core) SetRetentionMonths(months int) error    { return nil }
+func (c *Core) ReloadCensusManager() error             { return nil }
diff --git a/vault/core.go b/vault/core.go
index 18b1a872478d..30b3c284e964 100644
--- a/vault/core.go
+++ b/vault/core.go
@@ -2445,16 +2445,13 @@ func (s standardUnsealStrategy) unseal(ctx context.Context, logger log.Logger, c
 			return err
 		}
 
-		if !c.perfStandby {
-			if err := c.setupCensusManager(); err != nil {
-				logger.Error("failed to instantiate the license reporting agent", "error", err)
-			}
-
-			c.StartCensusReports(ctx)
-
-			c.StartManualCensusSnapshots()
+		if err := c.setupCensusManager(); err != nil {
+			logger.Error("failed to instantiate the license reporting agent", "error", err)
 		}
 
+		c.StartCensusReports(ctx)
+		c.StartManualCensusSnapshots()
+
 	} else {
 		broker, err := audit.NewBroker(logger)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -2847,7 +2844,6 @@ func (c *Core) preSeal() error {
 	if err := c.teardownCensusManager(); err != nil {
 		result = multierror.Append(result, fmt.Errorf("error tearing down reporting agent: %w", err))
 	}
-
 	if err := c.teardownCredentials(context.Background()); err != nil {
 		result = multierror.Append(result, fmt.Errorf("error tearing down credentials: %w", err))
 	}
diff --git a/vault/logical_system_activity.go b/vault/logical_system_activity.go
index 38674be00042..92feaf3ca59c 100644
--- a/vault/logical_system_activity.go
+++ b/vault/logical_system_activity.go
@@ -422,9 +422,6 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleActivityConfigUpdate(ctx context.Context, req *log
 		}
 	}
 
-	a.core.activityLogLock.RLock()
-	minimumRetentionMonths := a.configOverrides.MinimumRetentionMonths
-	a.core.activityLogLock.RUnlock()
 	enabled := config.Enabled == "enable"
 	if !enabled && config.Enabled == "default" {
 		enabled = activityLogEnabledDefault
@@ -435,8 +432,8 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleActivityConfigUpdate(ctx context.Context, req *log
 	}
 
 	// if manual license reporting is enabled, retention months must at least be 48 months
-	if a.core.ManualLicenseReportingEnabled() && config.RetentionMonths < minimumRetentionMonths {
-		return logical.ErrorResponse("retention_months must be at least %d while Reporting is enabled", minimumRetentionMonths), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+	if a.core.ManualLicenseReportingEnabled() && config.RetentionMonths < ActivityLogMinimumRetentionMonths {
+		return logical.ErrorResponse("retention_months must be at least %d while Reporting is enabled", ActivityLogMinimumRetentionMonths), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
 	}
 
 	// Store the config
@@ -451,9 +448,9 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleActivityConfigUpdate(ctx context.Context, req *log
 	// Set the new config on the activity log
 	a.SetConfig(ctx, config)
 
-	// reload census agent if retention months change during update when reporting is enabled
+	// Update Census agent's metadata if retention months change
 	if prevRetentionMonths != config.RetentionMonths {
-		if err := a.core.ReloadCensusActivityLog(); err != nil {
+		if err := b.Core.SetRetentionMonths(config.RetentionMonths); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}