diff --git a/e2e/integration_test.go b/e2e/integration_test.go
index b936db0..9b05e5f 100644
--- a/e2e/integration_test.go
+++ b/e2e/integration_test.go
@@ -100,8 +100,12 @@ func runServiceCheck(t *testing.T, e *e2e.Extension, config serviceCheckConfig)
 	t.Helper()
 	start := time.Now()
 	action, err := e.RunAction("com.steadybit.extension_stackstate.service.check", serviceCheckTarget(), config, &action_kit_api.ExecutionContext{})
-	require.NoError(t, err)
 	defer func() { _ = action.Cancel() }()
+	// A deviating state present from the very beginning now fails at RunAction() itself, since
+	// Start() runs the check immediately, rather than only showing up once Status() starts polling.
+	if err != nil {
+		return time.Since(start), err
+	}
 	err = action.Wait()
 	return time.Since(start), err
 }
diff --git a/extservice/service_check.go b/extservice/service_check.go
index cfd05af..880cf32 100644
--- a/extservice/service_check.go
+++ b/extservice/service_check.go
@@ -210,8 +210,17 @@ func (m *ServiceStatusCheckAction) Prepare(_ context.Context, state *ServiceStat
 	return nil, nil
 }
 
-func (m *ServiceStatusCheckAction) Start(_ context.Context, _ *ServiceStatusCheckState) (*action_kit_api.StartResult, error) {
-	return nil, nil
+func (m *ServiceStatusCheckAction) Start(ctx context.Context, state *ServiceStatusCheckState) (*action_kit_api.StartResult, error) {
+	statusResult, err := MonitorStatusCheckStatus(ctx, state, Client)
+	if statusResult == nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &action_kit_api.StartResult{
+		Artifacts: statusResult.Artifacts,
+		Error:     statusResult.Error,
+		Messages:  statusResult.Messages,
+		Metrics:   statusResult.Metrics,
+	}, err
 }
 
 func (m *ServiceStatusCheckAction) Status(ctx context.Context, state *ServiceStatusCheckState) (*action_kit_api.StatusResult, error) {