diff --git a/agent/consul/client.go b/agent/consul/client.go
index 861d95e53..c2e080637 100644
--- a/agent/consul/client.go
+++ b/agent/consul/client.go
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	// from an agent.
 	rpcLimiter atomic.Value
 
-	// eventCh is used to receive events from the
-	// serf cluster in the datacenter
+	// eventCh is used to receive events from the serf cluster in the datacenter
 	eventCh chan serf.Event
 
 	// Logger uses the provided LogOutput
@@ -108,6 +107,9 @@ func NewClient(config *Config, options ...ConsulOption) (*Client, error) {
 	if flat.logger == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("logger is required")
 	}
+	if flat.router == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("router is required")
+	}
 
 	if connPool == nil {
 		connPool = &pool.ConnPool{
@@ -156,23 +158,17 @@ func NewClient(config *Config, options ...ConsulOption) (*Client, error) {
 	}
 
 	// Initialize the LAN Serf
-	c.serf, err = c.setupSerf(config.SerfLANConfig,
-		c.eventCh, serfLANSnapshot)
+	c.serf, err = c.setupSerf(config.SerfLANConfig, c.eventCh, serfLANSnapshot)
 	if err != nil {
 		c.Shutdown()
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Failed to start lan serf: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	rpcRouter := flat.router
-	if rpcRouter == nil {
-		rpcRouter = router.NewRouter(logger, config.Datacenter, fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", config.NodeName, config.Datacenter))
-	}
-
-	if err := rpcRouter.AddArea(types.AreaLAN, c.serf, c.connPool); err != nil {
+	if err := flat.router.AddArea(types.AreaLAN, c.serf, c.connPool); err != nil {
 		c.Shutdown()
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Failed to add LAN area to the RPC router: %w", err)
 	}
-	c.router = rpcRouter
+	c.router = flat.router
 
 	// Start LAN event handlers after the router is complete since the event
 	// handlers depend on the router and the router depends on Serf.
diff --git a/agent/consul/client_test.go b/agent/consul/client_test.go
index e9a4c7bdc..cbbb6c639 100644
--- a/agent/consul/client_test.go
+++ b/agent/consul/client_test.go
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@ package consul
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/agent/router"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/agent/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/sdk/freeport"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/sdk/testutil"
@@ -75,7 +77,11 @@ func testClientWithConfigWithErr(t *testing.T, cb func(c *Config)) (string, *Cli
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	client, err := NewClient(config, WithLogger(logger), WithTLSConfigurator(tlsConf))
+	r := router.NewRouter(logger, config.Datacenter, fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", config.NodeName, config.Datacenter))
+	client, err := NewClient(config,
+		WithLogger(logger),
+		WithTLSConfigurator(tlsConf),
+		WithRouter(r))
 	return dir, client, err
 }
 
@@ -473,7 +479,11 @@ func newClient(t *testing.T, config *Config) *Client {
 		Level:  hclog.Debug,
 		Output: testutil.NewLogBuffer(t),
 	})
-	client, err := NewClient(config, WithLogger(logger), WithTLSConfigurator(c))
+	r := router.NewRouter(logger, config.Datacenter, fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", config.NodeName, config.Datacenter))
+	client, err := NewClient(config,
+		WithLogger(logger),
+		WithTLSConfigurator(c),
+		WithRouter(r))
 	require.NoError(t, err, "failed to create client")
 	t.Cleanup(func() {
 		client.Shutdown()
diff --git a/agent/consul/leader_test.go b/agent/consul/leader_test.go
index f8d5f91c6..2bd30e335 100644
--- a/agent/consul/leader_test.go
+++ b/agent/consul/leader_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/agent/router"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/agent/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/agent/token"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/api"
@@ -1305,10 +1306,13 @@ func TestLeader_ConfigEntryBootstrap_Fail(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	tlsConf, err := tlsutil.NewConfigurator(config.ToTLSUtilConfig(), logger)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	rpcRouter := router.NewRouter(logger, config.Datacenter, fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", config.NodeName, config.Datacenter))
 	srv, err := NewServer(config,
 		WithLogger(logger),
 		WithTokenStore(new(token.Store)),
-		WithTLSConfigurator(tlsConf))
+		WithTLSConfigurator(tlsConf),
+		WithRouter(rpcRouter))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	defer srv.Shutdown()
 
diff --git a/agent/consul/server.go b/agent/consul/server.go
index 2a496d962..7aacdfb9a 100644
--- a/agent/consul/server.go
+++ b/agent/consul/server.go
@@ -331,7 +331,6 @@ func NewServer(config *Config, options ...ConsulOption) (*Server, error) {
 	tokens := flat.tokens
 	tlsConfigurator := flat.tlsConfigurator
 	connPool := flat.connPool
-	rpcRouter := flat.router
 
 	if err := config.CheckProtocolVersion(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -345,6 +344,9 @@ func NewServer(config *Config, options ...ConsulOption) (*Server, error) {
 	if logger == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("logger is required")
 	}
+	if flat.router == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("router is required")
+	}
 
 	// Check if TLS is enabled
 	if config.CAFile != "" || config.CAPath != "" {
@@ -388,10 +390,6 @@ func NewServer(config *Config, options ...ConsulOption) (*Server, error) {
 	serverLogger := logger.NamedIntercept(logging.ConsulServer)
 	loggers := newLoggerStore(serverLogger)
 
-	if rpcRouter == nil {
-		rpcRouter = router.NewRouter(serverLogger, config.Datacenter, fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", config.NodeName, config.Datacenter))
-	}
-
 	// Create server.
 	s := &Server{
 		config:                  config,
@@ -403,7 +401,7 @@ func NewServer(config *Config, options ...ConsulOption) (*Server, error) {
 		loggers:                 loggers,
 		leaveCh:                 make(chan struct{}),
 		reconcileCh:             make(chan serf.Member, reconcileChSize),
-		router:                  rpcRouter,
+		router:                  flat.router,
 		rpcServer:               rpc.NewServer(),
 		insecureRPCServer:       rpc.NewServer(),
 		tlsConfigurator:         tlsConfigurator,
diff --git a/agent/consul/server_test.go b/agent/consul/server_test.go
index 95069c9f7..00a7e4ea1 100644
--- a/agent/consul/server_test.go
+++ b/agent/consul/server_test.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/google/tcpproxy"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/agent/connect/ca"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/agent/router"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/ipaddr"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/memberlist"
 
@@ -301,10 +302,13 @@ func newServer(t *testing.T, c *Config) (*Server, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
+	rpcRouter := router.NewRouter(logger, c.Datacenter, fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", c.NodeName, c.Datacenter))
 	srv, err := NewServer(c,
 		WithLogger(logger),
 		WithTokenStore(new(token.Store)),
-		WithTLSConfigurator(tlsConf))
+		WithTLSConfigurator(tlsConf),
+		WithRouter(rpcRouter))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -1491,10 +1495,13 @@ func TestServer_CALogging(t *testing.T) {
 	c, err := tlsutil.NewConfigurator(conf1.ToTLSUtilConfig(), logger)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
+	rpcRouter := router.NewRouter(logger, "dc1", fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", "nodename", "dc1"))
+
 	s1, err := NewServer(conf1,
 		WithLogger(logger),
 		WithTokenStore(new(token.Store)),
-		WithTLSConfigurator(c))
+		WithTLSConfigurator(c),
+		WithRouter(rpcRouter))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}