diff --git a/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h b/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
index fc1c23a857e..3ffd49cdf04 100644
--- a/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
+++ b/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
@@ -467,18 +467,19 @@ struct bt_mesh_model_cb {
 				  size_t len_rd, settings_read_cb read_cb,
 				  void *cb_arg);
 
-	/** @brief Callback called when all settings have been loaded.
+	/** @brief Callback called when the mesh is started.
 	 *
-	 *  This handler gets called after the settings have been loaded in
-	 *  full.
+	 *  This handler gets called after the node has been provisioned, or
+	 *  after all mesh data has been loaded from persistent storage.
 	 *
-	 *  @sa settings_handler::h_commit
+	 *  When this callback fires, the mesh model may start its behavior,
+	 *  and all Access APIs are ready for use.
 	 *
-	 *  @param model Model this callback belongs to.
+	 *  @param model      Model this callback belongs to.
 	 *
 	 *  @return 0 on success, error otherwise.
 	 */
-	int (*const settings_commit)(struct bt_mesh_model *model);
+	int (*const start)(struct bt_mesh_model *model);
 
 	/** @brief Model init callback.
 	 *
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c
index 1b20b233e01..ac50e494974 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ int bt_mesh_provision(const u8_t net_key[16], u16_t net_idx,
 		bt_mesh_store_iv(false);
 	}
 
-	bt_mesh_net_start();
+	bt_mesh_start();
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -326,3 +326,19 @@ int bt_mesh_init(const struct bt_mesh_prov *prov,
 
 	return 0;
 }
+
+static void model_start(struct bt_mesh_model *mod, struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
+			bool vnd, bool primary, void *user_data)
+{
+	if (mod->cb && mod->cb->start) {
+		mod->cb->start(mod);
+	}
+}
+
+int bt_mesh_start(void)
+{
+	bt_mesh_net_start();
+	bt_mesh_model_foreach(model_start, NULL);
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/mesh.h b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/mesh.h
index 2bba70f485b..78fc4572db5 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/mesh.h
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/mesh.h
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@
 #define BT_MESH_ADDR_IS_RFU(addr) ((addr) >= 0xff00 && (addr) <= 0xfffb)
 
 struct bt_mesh_net;
+
+int bt_mesh_start(void);
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/settings.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/settings.c
index 04321a5c6e6..4cb6f35487b 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/settings.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/settings.c
@@ -899,10 +899,6 @@ static void commit_mod(struct bt_mesh_model *mod, struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
 			k_delayed_work_submit(&mod->pub->timer, ms);
 		}
 	}
-
-	if (mod->cb && mod->cb->settings_commit)  {
-		mod->cb->settings_commit(mod);
-	}
 }
 
 static int mesh_commit(void)
@@ -962,7 +958,7 @@ static int mesh_commit(void)
 
 	atomic_set_bit(bt_mesh.flags, BT_MESH_VALID);
 
-	bt_mesh_net_start();
+	bt_mesh_start();
 
 	return 0;
 }