diff --git a/rsocket-core/src/main/java/io/rsocket/RSocketFactory.java b/rsocket-core/src/main/java/io/rsocket/RSocketFactory.java
index 32111f5a3..5458b3ebb 100644
--- a/rsocket-core/src/main/java/io/rsocket/RSocketFactory.java
+++ b/rsocket-core/src/main/java/io/rsocket/RSocketFactory.java
@@ -228,28 +228,21 @@ public Mono<RSocket> start() {
                           ackTimeout,
                           missedAcks);
 
-                  Mono<RSocket> wrappedRSocketClient =
-                      Mono.just(rSocketClient).map(plugins::applyClient);
-
-                  DuplexConnection finalConnection = connection;
-                  return wrappedRSocketClient.flatMap(
-                      wrappedClientRSocket -> {
-                        RSocket unwrappedServerSocket = acceptor.get().apply(wrappedClientRSocket);
-
-                        Mono<RSocket> wrappedRSocketServer =
-                            Mono.just(unwrappedServerSocket).map(plugins::applyServer);
-
-                        return wrappedRSocketServer
-                            .doOnNext(
-                                rSocket ->
-                                    new RSocketServer(
-                                        multiplexer.asServerConnection(),
-                                        rSocket,
-                                        frameDecoder,
-                                        errorConsumer))
-                            .then(finalConnection.sendOne(setupFrame))
-                            .then(wrappedRSocketClient);
-                      });
+                  RSocket wrappedRSocketClient = plugins.applyClient(rSocketClient);
+
+                  RSocket unwrappedServerSocket = acceptor.get().apply(wrappedRSocketClient);
+
+                  RSocket wrappedRSocketServer = plugins.applyServer(unwrappedServerSocket);
+
+                  RSocketServer rSocketServer = new RSocketServer(
+                      multiplexer.asServerConnection(),
+                      wrappedRSocketServer,
+                      frameDecoder,
+                      errorConsumer);
+
+                  return connection
+                      .sendOne(setupFrame)
+                      .thenReturn(wrappedRSocketClient);
                 });
       }
     }
@@ -332,7 +325,7 @@ public Mono<T> start() {
                 });
       }
 
-      private Mono<? extends Void> processSetupFrame(
+      private Mono<Void> processSetupFrame(
           ClientServerInputMultiplexer multiplexer, Frame setupFrame) {
         int version = Frame.Setup.version(setupFrame);
         if (version != SetupFrameFlyweight.CURRENT_VERSION) {
@@ -355,15 +348,20 @@ private Mono<? extends Void> processSetupFrame(
                 errorConsumer,
                 StreamIdSupplier.serverSupplier());
 
-        Mono<RSocket> wrappedRSocketClient = Mono.just(rSocketClient).map(plugins::applyClient);
+        RSocket wrappedRSocketClient = plugins.applyClient(rSocketClient);
 
-        return wrappedRSocketClient
-            .flatMap(
-                sender -> acceptor.get().accept(setupPayload, sender).map(plugins::applyServer))
-            .map(
-                handler ->
-                    new RSocketServer(
-                        multiplexer.asClientConnection(), handler, frameDecoder, errorConsumer))
+        return acceptor
+            .get()
+            .accept(setupPayload, wrappedRSocketClient)
+            .doOnNext(unwrappedServerSocket -> {
+              RSocket wrappedRSocketServer = plugins.applyServer(unwrappedServerSocket);
+
+              RSocketServer rSocketServer = new RSocketServer(
+                  multiplexer.asClientConnection(),
+                  wrappedRSocketServer,
+                  frameDecoder,
+                  errorConsumer);
+            })
             .then();
       }
     }