diff --git a/files/build_templates/pmon.service.j2 b/files/build_templates/pmon.service.j2
index 33f3173b4887..9c4226256818 100644
--- a/files/build_templates/pmon.service.j2
+++ b/files/build_templates/pmon.service.j2
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 Description=Platform monitor container
 Requires=updategraph.service
 After=updategraph.service
+{% if sonic_asic_platform == 'mellanox' %}
+After=syncd.service
+{% endif %}
 Before=ntp-config.service
 
 [Service]
diff --git a/files/scripts/syncd.sh b/files/scripts/syncd.sh
index 0c3be805e7d6..c90646573218 100755
--- a/files/scripts/syncd.sh
+++ b/files/scripts/syncd.sh
@@ -104,11 +104,9 @@ start() {
         if [[ x"$WARM_BOOT" != x"true" ]]; then
             if [[ x"$(/bin/systemctl is-active pmon)" == x"active" ]]; then
                 /bin/systemctl stop pmon
-                /usr/bin/hw-management.sh chipdown
-                /bin/systemctl restart pmon
-            else
-                /usr/bin/hw-management.sh chipdown
+                debug "pmon is active while syncd starting, stop it first"
             fi
+            /usr/bin/hw-management.sh chipdown
         fi
 
         if [[ x"$BOOT_TYPE" == x"fast" ]]; then
@@ -134,6 +132,11 @@ start() {
 }
 
 wait() {
+    if [[ x"$sonic_asic_platform" == x"mellanox" ]]; then
+        debug "Starting pmon service..."
+        /bin/systemctl start pmon
+        debug "Started pmon service"
+    fi
     /usr/bin/${SERVICE}.sh wait
 }
 
@@ -150,6 +153,12 @@ stop() {
         TYPE=cold
     fi
 
+    if [[ x$sonic_asic_platform == x"mellanox" ]] && [[ x$TYPE == x"cold" ]]; then
+        debug "Stopping pmon service ahead of syncd..."
+        /bin/systemctl stop pmon
+        debug "Stopped pmon service."
+    fi
+
     if [[ x$sonic_asic_platform != x"mellanox" ]] || [[ x$TYPE != x"cold" ]]; then
         debug "${TYPE} shutdown syncd process ..."
         /usr/bin/docker exec -i syncd /usr/bin/syncd_request_shutdown --${TYPE}