diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 905528ea71b..ebe4b09083c 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ enhancements to `cylc lint`:
 
 ### Fixes
 
+[#5604](https://github.com/cylc/cylc-flow/pull/5604) -
+Fix a possible issue where workflows started using
+`cylc play --start-cycle-point` could hang during startup.
+
 [#5524](https://github.com/cylc/cylc-flow/pull/5524) - Logging includes timestamps
 for `cylc play` when called by `cylc vip` or `cylc vr`.
 
diff --git a/cylc/flow/cycling/iso8601.py b/cylc/flow/cycling/iso8601.py
index 9e7032efdc9..7ceca4174b1 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/cycling/iso8601.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/cycling/iso8601.py
@@ -544,7 +544,10 @@ def get_next_point_on_sequence(
             return self.get_next_point_on_sequence(result)
         return result
 
-    def get_first_point(self, point):
+    def get_first_point(
+        self,
+        point: ISO8601Point
+    ) -> Optional[ISO8601Point]:
         """Return the first point >= to point, or None if out of bounds."""
         with contextlib.suppress(KeyError):
             return ISO8601Point(self._cached_first_point_values[point.value])
diff --git a/cylc/flow/scheduler.py b/cylc/flow/scheduler.py
index 7b6cfe6a44d..dd4b8efae74 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/scheduler.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/scheduler.py
@@ -699,8 +699,8 @@ async def start(self):
             self.server.thread.start()
             barrier.wait()
 
-            await self.configure()
             self._configure_contact()
+            await self.configure()
         except (KeyboardInterrupt, asyncio.CancelledError, Exception) as exc:
             await self.handle_exception(exc)
 
@@ -1807,7 +1807,11 @@ async def _shutdown(self, reason: BaseException) -> None:
         sys.stdout.flush()
         sys.stderr.flush()
 
-        if self.contact_data and self.task_job_mgr:
+        if (
+            self.workflow_db_mgr.pri_path
+            and Path(self.workflow_db_mgr.pri_path).exists()
+        ):
+            # only attempt remote tidy if the workflow has been started
             self.task_job_mgr.task_remote_mgr.remote_tidy()
 
         try:
diff --git a/cylc/flow/task_pool.py b/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
index 2d2d7fd0926..ae193c044a4 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
@@ -312,12 +312,17 @@ def compute_runahead(self, force=False) -> bool:
         changed (needed if max_future_offset changed, or on reload).
         """
         points: List['PointBase'] = []
+        sequence_points: Set['PointBase']
         if not self.main_pool:
             # Start at first point in each sequence, after the initial point.
-            points = list({
-                seq.get_first_point(self.config.start_point)
-                for seq in self.config.sequences
-            })
+            points = [
+                point
+                for point in {
+                    seq.get_first_point(self.config.start_point)
+                    for seq in self.config.sequences
+                }
+                if point is not None
+            ]
         else:
             # Find the earliest point with unfinished tasks.
             for point, itasks in sorted(self.get_tasks_by_point().items()):
@@ -793,7 +798,7 @@ def get_hidden_tasks(self) -> List[TaskProxy]:
                 self._hidden_pool_list.extend(list(itask_id_maps.values()))
         return self._hidden_pool_list
 
-    def get_tasks_by_point(self):
+    def get_tasks_by_point(self) -> 'Dict[PointBase, List[TaskProxy]]':
         """Return a map of task proxies by cycle point."""
         point_itasks = {}
         for point, itask_id_map in self.main_pool.items():
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_task_pool.py b/tests/integration/test_task_pool.py
index 530e0063b70..4cf4ab78208 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_task_pool.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_task_pool.py
@@ -962,3 +962,30 @@ async def test_graph_change_prereq_satisfaction(
             schd.pool.reload_taskdefs()
 
             await test.asend(schd)
+
+
+async def test_runahead_limit_for_sequence_before_start_cycle(
+    flow,
+    scheduler,
+    start,
+):
+    """It should obey the runahead limit.
+
+    Ensure the runahead limit is computed correctly for sequences before the start cycle
+
+    See https://github.com/cylc/cylc-flow/issues/5603
+    """
+    id_ = flow({
+        'scheduler': {'allow implicit tasks': 'True'},
+        'scheduling': {
+            'initial cycle point': '2000',
+            'runahead limit': 'P2Y',
+            'graph': {
+                'R1/2000': 'a',
+                'P1Y': 'b[-P1Y] => b',
+            },
+        }
+    })
+    schd = scheduler(id_, startcp='2005')
+    async with start(schd):
+        assert str(schd.pool.runahead_limit_point) == '20070101T0000Z'