diff --git a/cell/lifecycle.go b/cell/lifecycle.go
index cbe41ee..a41f75e 100644
--- a/cell/lifecycle.go
+++ b/cell/lifecycle.go
@@ -75,6 +75,19 @@ type augmentedHook struct {
 	moduleID FullModuleID
 }
 
+func NewDefaultLifecycle(hooks []HookInterface, numStarted int, logThreshold time.Duration) *DefaultLifecycle {
+	h := make([]augmentedHook, 0, len(hooks))
+	for _, hook := range hooks {
+		h = append(h, augmentedHook{hook, nil})
+	}
+	return &DefaultLifecycle{
+		mu:           sync.Mutex{},
+		hooks:        h,
+		numStarted:   numStarted,
+		LogThreshold: logThreshold,
+	}
+}
+
 func (lc *DefaultLifecycle) Append(hook HookInterface) {
 	lc.mu.Lock()
 	defer lc.mu.Unlock()
@@ -92,7 +105,7 @@ func (lc *DefaultLifecycle) Start(log *slog.Logger, ctx context.Context) error {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	for _, hook := range lc.hooks {
+	for i, hook := range lc.hooks {
 		fnName, exists := getHookFuncName(hook, true)
 
 		if !exists {
@@ -102,6 +115,13 @@ func (lc *DefaultLifecycle) Start(log *slog.Logger, ctx context.Context) error {
 		}
 
 		l := log.With("function", fnName)
+
+		// Do not attempt to start already started hooks.
+		if i < lc.numStarted {
+			l.Error("Hook appears to be running. Skipping")
+			continue
+		}
+
 		l.Debug("Executing start hook")
 		t0 := time.Now()
 		if err := hook.Start(ctx); err != nil {
diff --git a/cell/lifecycle_test.go b/cell/lifecycle_test.go
index cc28aca..7a37f26 100644
--- a/cell/lifecycle_test.go
+++ b/cell/lifecycle_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"log/slog"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 
@@ -15,41 +16,56 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	started, stopped int
-
 	errLifecycle = errors.New("nope")
-
-	goodHook = cell.Hook{
-		OnStart: func(cell.HookContext) error {
-			started++
-			return nil
-		},
-		OnStop: func(cell.HookContext) error {
-			stopped++
-			return nil
-		},
-	}
-
 	badStartHook = cell.Hook{
 		OnStart: func(cell.HookContext) error {
 			return errLifecycle
 		},
 	}
 
-	badStopHook = cell.Hook{
-		OnStart: func(cell.HookContext) error {
-			started++
-			return nil
-		},
-		OnStop: func(cell.HookContext) error {
-			return errLifecycle
-		},
+	nilHook = cell.Hook{OnStart: nil, OnStop: nil}
+)
+
+func TestNewDefaultLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
+	var started, stopped int
+	goodHook := cell.Hook{
+		OnStart: func(cell.HookContext) error { started++; return nil },
+		OnStop:  func(cell.HookContext) error { stopped++; return nil },
 	}
 
-	nilHook = cell.Hook{nil, nil}
-)
+	log := slog.Default()
+	lc := cell.NewDefaultLifecycle([]cell.HookInterface{goodHook}, 0, time.Second)
+
+	err := lc.Start(log, context.TODO())
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "expected Start to succeed")
+	err = lc.Stop(log, context.TODO())
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "expected Stop to succeed")
+
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, started)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, stopped)
+
+	// Construct already started hooks
+	started = 0
+	stopped = 0
+
+	lc = cell.NewDefaultLifecycle([]cell.HookInterface{goodHook}, 1, time.Second)
+	err = lc.Stop(log, context.TODO())
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "expected Stop to succeed")
+
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, started)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, stopped)
+}
 
 func TestLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
+	var started, stopped int
+	goodHook := cell.Hook{
+		OnStart: func(cell.HookContext) error { started++; return nil },
+		OnStop:  func(cell.HookContext) error { stopped++; return nil },
+	}
+	badStopHook := cell.Hook{
+		OnStart: func(cell.HookContext) error { started++; return nil },
+		OnStop:  func(cell.HookContext) error { return errLifecycle },
+	}
 	log := slog.Default()
 	var lc cell.DefaultLifecycle