diff --git a/vault/activity_log.go b/vault/activity_log.go
index cdfa9d97d6..5487ba35ac 100644
--- a/vault/activity_log.go
+++ b/vault/activity_log.go
@@ -1167,9 +1167,6 @@ func (c *Core) setupActivityLogLocked(ctx context.Context, wg *sync.WaitGroup) e
 			manager.retentionWorker(ctx, manager.clock.Now(), months)
 			close(manager.retentionDone)
 		}(manager.retentionMonths)
-
-		manager.CensusReportDone = make(chan bool, 1)
-		go c.activityLog.CensusReport(ctx, c.CensusAgent(), c.BillingStart())
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/vault/census_stubs_oss.go b/vault/census_stubs_oss.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..db34578100
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vault/census_stubs_oss.go
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// Copyright (c) HashiCorp, Inc.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BUSL-1.1
+
+//go:build !enterprise
+
+package vault
+
+import "context"
+
+//go:generate go run github.com/hashicorp/vault/tools/stubmaker
+
+func (c *Core) StartCensusReports(ctx context.Context) {}
diff --git a/vault/core.go b/vault/core.go
index 9800192c3c..452e12cb2e 100644
--- a/vault/core.go
+++ b/vault/core.go
@@ -2460,12 +2460,6 @@ func (s standardUnsealStrategy) unseal(ctx context.Context, logger log.Logger, c
 	}
 
 	if !c.IsDRSecondary() {
-		if !c.perfStandby {
-			if err := c.setupCensusManager(); err != nil {
-				logger.Error("failed to instantiate the license reporting agent", "error", err)
-			}
-		}
-
 		// not waiting on wg to avoid changing existing behavior
 		var wg sync.WaitGroup
 		if err := c.setupActivityLog(ctx, &wg); err != nil {
@@ -2473,6 +2467,12 @@ func (s standardUnsealStrategy) unseal(ctx context.Context, logger log.Logger, c
 		}
 
 		if !c.perfStandby {
+			if err := c.setupCensusManager(); err != nil {
+				logger.Error("failed to instantiate the license reporting agent", "error", err)
+			}
+
+			c.StartCensusReports(ctx)
+
 			c.StartManualCensusSnapshots()
 		}
 
diff --git a/vault/logical_system_activity.go b/vault/logical_system_activity.go
index bd98c08495..dbadccd4ad 100644
--- a/vault/logical_system_activity.go
+++ b/vault/logical_system_activity.go
@@ -353,6 +353,8 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleActivityConfigUpdate(ctx context.Context, req *log
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	prevRetentionMonths := config.RetentionMonths
+
 	{
 		// Parse the default report months
 		if defaultReportMonthsRaw, ok := d.GetOk("default_report_months"); ok {
@@ -438,6 +440,11 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleActivityConfigUpdate(ctx context.Context, req *log
 	// Set the new config on the activity log
 	a.SetConfig(ctx, config)
 
+	// reload census agent if retention months change during update when reporting is enabled
+	if prevRetentionMonths != config.RetentionMonths {
+		a.core.ReloadCensus()
+	}
+
 	if len(warnings) > 0 {
 		return &logical.Response{
 			Warnings: warnings,