diff --git a/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosAcceptor.java b/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosAcceptor.java
index b274e10c..a847a908 100644
--- a/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosAcceptor.java
+++ b/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosAcceptor.java
@@ -76,15 +76,15 @@ public class PaxosAcceptor {
 			.isLoggingEnabled() || SQLPaxosLogger.isJournalingEnabled();
 
 	// active but never run for coordinator yet
-protected boolean notRunYet() {
-	return this.state == (byte)STATES.ACTIVE_1.ordinal();
-}
+	protected boolean notRunYet() {
+		return this.state == (byte)STATES.ACTIVE_1.ordinal();
+	}
 
-protected void setActive2() {
-	this.state = (byte)STATES.ACTIVE_2.ordinal();
-}
+	protected void setActive2() {
+		this.state = (byte)STATES.ACTIVE_2.ordinal();
+	}
 
-protected static enum STATES {
+	protected static enum STATES {
 		RECOVERY,
 		ACTIVE_1, // active, haven't yet run for coordinator
 		ACTIVE_2, // active, have run for coordinator at least once
diff --git a/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosConfig.java b/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosConfig.java
index ba0f4556..ac64aed2 100644
--- a/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosConfig.java
+++ b/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosConfig.java
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 import edu.umass.cs.nio.SSLDataProcessingWorker;
 import edu.umass.cs.nio.SSLDataProcessingWorker.SSL_MODES;
 import edu.umass.cs.nio.interfaces.NodeConfig;
-import edu.umass.cs.reconfiguration.interfaces.ReconfigurableNodeConfig;
 import edu.umass.cs.reconfiguration.interfaces.ReplicableRequest;
 import edu.umass.cs.utils.Config;
 import edu.umass.cs.utils.DiskMap;
@@ -919,6 +918,24 @@ public static enum PC implements Config.ConfigurableEnum,
 
 		FORWARD_PREEMPTED_REQUESTS(true),
 
+		/**
+		 * If true, an Active Replica will start coordinator election process
+		 * (i.e., Phase 1 of Paxos or Leader Election) during startup, when an
+		 * Active has not yet run for a Coordinator.
+		 * Checkout {@link PaxosInstanceStateMachine#notRunYet()}.
+		 * Note that this option ensures better liveness since replica groups
+		 * will have an elected coordinator faster. However, the options can cause
+		 * flaky leadership during replica group startup: rapid leader changes
+		 * before a long-running coordinator is elected.
+		 * <p>
+		 * If false, there will be a coordinator chosen deterministically during
+		 * startup, even when all the Nodes do not start with Phase 1 of Paxos.
+		 * This option is more stable but can cause liveness issue when the
+		 * deterministically chosen coordinator during startup suddenly crashed,
+		 * making all the Nodes need to wait until coordinator timeout.
+		 */
+		ENABLE_STARTUP_COORDINATOR_ELECTION(true),
+
 
 		/**
 		 * FIXME: The options below only exist for testing stringification
diff --git a/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosInstanceStateMachine.java b/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosInstanceStateMachine.java
index 956a7d82..5e5111b9 100644
--- a/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosInstanceStateMachine.java
+++ b/src/edu/umass/cs/gigapaxos/PaxosInstanceStateMachine.java
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@ public class PaxosInstanceStateMachine implements Keyable<String>, Pausable {
 	private static final boolean ENABLE_INSTRUMENTATION = Config
 			.getGlobalBoolean(PC.ENABLE_INSTRUMENTATION);
 
+	private static final boolean ENABLE_STARTUP_COORDINATOR_ELECTION = Config.
+			getGlobalBoolean(PC.ENABLE_STARTUP_COORDINATOR_ELECTION);
+
 	private static final boolean instrument() {
 		return ENABLE_INSTRUMENTATION;
 	}
@@ -2152,11 +2155,14 @@ private synchronized PaxosCoordinator tryMakeCoordinator(Ballot newBallot) {
 				this.paxosState.getSlot(), false);
 	}
 
-private boolean notRunYet() {
+	private boolean notRunYet() {
+		if (!ENABLE_STARTUP_COORDINATOR_ELECTION) {
+			return false;
+		}
 		return this.paxosState.notRunYet();
-}
+	}
 
-private String getBallots() {
+	private String getBallots() {
 		return "["
 				+ (this.coordinator != null ? "C:("
 						+ (this.coordinator != null ? this.coordinator