diff --git a/command/init_func_test.go b/command/init_func_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c733b8345e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/init_func_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// Copyright (c) HashiCorp, Inc.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BUSL-1.1
+
+package command
+
+import "os"
+
+func init() {
+	if signed := os.Getenv("VAULT_LICENSE_CI"); signed != "" {
+		os.Setenv(EnvVaultLicense, signed)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/command/operator_migrate_test.go b/command/operator_migrate_test.go
index b2a92d3396..1a75cfbf8a 100644
--- a/command/operator_migrate_test.go
+++ b/command/operator_migrate_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/go-test/deep"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/cli"
@@ -29,10 +28,6 @@ import (
 
 const trailing_slash_key = "trailing_slash/"
 
-func init() {
-	rand.Seed(time.Now().UnixNano())
-}
-
 func TestMigration(t *testing.T) {
 	handlers := newVaultHandlers()
 	t.Run("Default", func(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/command/server.go b/command/server.go
index 26c692b653..0c0832a798 100644
--- a/command/server.go
+++ b/command/server.go
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ type ServerCommand struct {
 	flagTestServerConfig   bool
 	flagDevConsul          bool
 	flagExitOnCoreShutdown bool
+	ignoreLicenseEnvVar    bool
 
 	sealsToFinalize []*vault.Seal
 }
@@ -1192,7 +1193,7 @@ func (c *ServerCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 	if envLicensePath := os.Getenv(EnvVaultLicensePath); envLicensePath != "" {
 		config.LicensePath = envLicensePath
 	}
-	if envLicense := os.Getenv(EnvVaultLicense); envLicense != "" {
+	if envLicense := os.Getenv(EnvVaultLicense); envLicense != "" && !c.ignoreLicenseEnvVar {
 		config.License = envLicense
 	}
 
@@ -1756,11 +1757,6 @@ func (c *ServerCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 				c.UI.Error(err.Error())
 			}
 
-			select {
-			case c.licenseReloadedCh <- err:
-			default:
-			}
-
 			// Let the managedKeyRegistry react to configuration changes (i.e.
 			// changes in kms_libraries)
 			core.ReloadManagedKeyRegistryConfig()
@@ -2988,6 +2984,7 @@ func createCoreConfig(c *ServerCommand, config *server.Config, backend physical.
 		EnableResponseHeaderRaftNodeID: config.EnableResponseHeaderRaftNodeID,
 		License:                        config.License,
 		LicensePath:                    config.LicensePath,
+		LicenseReload:                  c.licenseReloadedCh,
 		DisableSSCTokens:               config.DisableSSCTokens,
 		Experiments:                    config.Experiments,
 		AdministrativeNamespacePath:    config.AdministrativeNamespacePath,
diff --git a/command/server_test.go b/command/server_test.go
index 896925e91f..5ac5fe2181 100644
--- a/command/server_test.go
+++ b/command/server_test.go
@@ -43,12 +43,6 @@ func regexReplacer(re, repl string) Modifier {
 	}
 }
 
-func init() {
-	if signed := os.Getenv("VAULT_LICENSE_CI"); signed != "" {
-		os.Setenv(EnvVaultLicense, signed)
-	}
-}
-
 func testBaseHCL(tb testing.TB, listenerExtras string, modifiers ...Modifier) string {
 	tb.Helper()
 
diff --git a/command/server_util.go b/command/server_util.go
index c0227ea28b..62de9cd1e8 100644
--- a/command/server_util.go
+++ b/command/server_util.go
@@ -48,6 +48,6 @@ func testServerCommand(tb testing.TB) (*cli.MockUi, *ServerCommand) {
 		// These prevent us from random sleep guessing...
 		startedCh:         make(chan struct{}, 5),
 		reloadedCh:        make(chan struct{}, 5),
-		licenseReloadedCh: make(chan error),
+		licenseReloadedCh: make(chan error, 1),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/vault/core.go b/vault/core.go
index b906174763..d51a67190d 100644
--- a/vault/core.go
+++ b/vault/core.go
@@ -753,6 +753,7 @@ type Core struct {
 
 	// Activation flags for enterprise features that require a one-time activation
 	FeatureActivationFlags *activationflags.FeatureActivationFlags
+	licenseReloadCh        chan error
 }
 
 func (c *Core) ActiveNodeClockSkewMillis() int64 {
@@ -941,6 +942,7 @@ type CoreConfig struct {
 	PeriodicLeaderRefreshInterval time.Duration
 
 	ClusterAddrBridge *raft.ClusterAddrBridge
+	LicenseReload     chan error
 }
 
 // GetServiceRegistration returns the config's ServiceRegistration, or nil if it does
@@ -1402,6 +1404,7 @@ func NewCore(conf *CoreConfig) (*Core, error) {
 	}
 
 	c.clusterAddrBridge = conf.ClusterAddrBridge
+	c.licenseReloadCh = conf.LicenseReload
 	return c, nil
 }