diff --git a/src/cmd/addr2line/main.go b/src/cmd/addr2line/main.go
index e77785f156..b1ec4e0278 100644
--- a/src/cmd/addr2line/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/addr2line/main.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func usage() {
 func main() {
 	log.SetFlags(0)
 	log.SetPrefix("addr2line: ")
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 
 	// pprof expects this behavior when checking for addr2line
 	if len(os.Args) > 1 && os.Args[1] == "--help" {
diff --git a/src/cmd/asm/main.go b/src/cmd/asm/main.go
index 82a2fa80e0..ca4e25d047 100644
--- a/src/cmd/asm/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/asm/main.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import (
 func main() {
 	log.SetFlags(0)
 	log.SetPrefix("asm: ")
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 
 	buildcfg.Check()
 	GOARCH := buildcfg.GOARCH
diff --git a/src/cmd/buildid/buildid.go b/src/cmd/buildid/buildid.go
index 7abc37283f..a008122a0a 100644
--- a/src/cmd/buildid/buildid.go
+++ b/src/cmd/buildid/buildid.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ var wflag = flag.Bool("w", false, "write build ID")
 func main() {
 	log.SetPrefix("buildid: ")
 	log.SetFlags(0)
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	flag.Usage = usage
 	flag.Parse()
 	telemetry.Inc("buildid/invocations")
diff --git a/src/cmd/cgo/main.go b/src/cmd/cgo/main.go
index c258985fee..bf879be814 100644
--- a/src/cmd/cgo/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/cgo/main.go
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ var goarch, goos, gomips, gomips64 string
 var gccBaseCmd []string
 
 func main() {
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	objabi.AddVersionFlag() // -V
 	objabi.Flagparse(usage)
 	telemetry.Inc("cgo/invocations")
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/main.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/main.go
index 41f5e43ec6..3887d4156d 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/main.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func handlePanic() {
 // code, and finally writes the compiled package definition to disk.
 func Main(archInit func(*ssagen.ArchInfo)) {
 	base.Timer.Start("fe", "init")
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	telemetry.Inc("compile/invocations")
 
 	defer handlePanic()
diff --git a/src/cmd/covdata/covdata.go b/src/cmd/covdata/covdata.go
index b280203f0c..48d7b9ed08 100644
--- a/src/cmd/covdata/covdata.go
+++ b/src/cmd/covdata/covdata.go
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 func main() {
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 
 	// First argument should be mode/subcommand.
 	if len(os.Args) < 2 {
diff --git a/src/cmd/cover/cover.go b/src/cmd/cover/cover.go
index 912f7cafb5..47eebaadd3 100644
--- a/src/cmd/cover/cover.go
+++ b/src/cmd/cover/cover.go
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 func main() {
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 
 	objabi.AddVersionFlag()
 	flag.Usage = usage
diff --git a/src/cmd/distpack/pack.go b/src/cmd/distpack/pack.go
index 0faab5c0b8..9ad33ee589 100644
--- a/src/cmd/distpack/pack.go
+++ b/src/cmd/distpack/pack.go
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ var (
 func main() {
 	log.SetPrefix("distpack: ")
 	log.SetFlags(0)
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	flag.Usage = usage
 	flag.Parse()
 	telemetry.Inc("distpack/invocations")
diff --git a/src/cmd/doc/main.go b/src/cmd/doc/main.go
index d02bf65c40..4dbddcb79f 100644
--- a/src/cmd/doc/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/doc/main.go
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func usage() {
 func main() {
 	log.SetFlags(0)
 	log.SetPrefix("doc: ")
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	dirsInit()
 	err := do(os.Stdout, flag.CommandLine, os.Args[1:])
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/src/cmd/fix/main.go b/src/cmd/fix/main.go
index b0aabae889..d915ece4ce 100644
--- a/src/cmd/fix/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/fix/main.go
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func usage() {
 }
 
 func main() {
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	flag.Usage = usage
 	flag.Parse()
 	telemetry.Inc("fix/invocations")
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/main.go b/src/cmd/go/main.go
index 9d140de215..eb33df1ad4 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/main.go
@@ -95,11 +95,12 @@ var counterErrorsGOPATHEntryRelative = telemetry.NewCounter("go/errors:gopath-en
 
 func main() {
 	log.SetFlags(0)
-	telemetry.Start() // Open the telemetry counter file so counters can be written to it.
+	telemetry.MaybeChild()   // Run in child mode if this is the telemetry sidecar child process.
+	telemetry.OpenCounters() // Open the telemetry counter file so counters can be written to it.
 	handleChdirFlag()
 	toolchain.Select()
 
-	telemetry.StartWithUpload() // Run the upload process. Opening the counter file is idempotent.
+	telemetry.MaybeParent() // Run the upload process. Opening the counter file is idempotent.
 	flag.Usage = base.Usage
 	flag.Parse()
 	telemetry.Inc("go/invocations")
diff --git a/src/cmd/gofmt/gofmt.go b/src/cmd/gofmt/gofmt.go
index 03f7bef89c..d6721f9327 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gofmt/gofmt.go
+++ b/src/cmd/gofmt/gofmt.go
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ func main() {
 }
 
 func gofmtMain(s *sequencer) {
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	flag.Usage = usage
 	flag.Parse()
 	telemetry.Inc("gofmt/invocations")
diff --git a/src/cmd/internal/telemetry/telemetry.go b/src/cmd/internal/telemetry/telemetry.go
index f11d80d19f..b0c864a1a9 100644
--- a/src/cmd/internal/telemetry/telemetry.go
+++ b/src/cmd/internal/telemetry/telemetry.go
@@ -19,25 +19,43 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/telemetry/counter"
 )
 
-// Start opens the counter files for writing if telemetry is supported
+var openCountersCalled, maybeChildCalled bool
+
+// OpenCounters opens the counter files for writing if telemetry is supported
 // on the current platform (and does nothing otherwise).
-func Start() {
+func OpenCounters() {
+	openCountersCalled = true
 	telemetry.Start(telemetry.Config{
 		TelemetryDir: os.Getenv("TEST_TELEMETRY_DIR"),
 	})
 }
 
-// StartWithUpload opens the counter files for writing if telemetry
-// is supported on the current platform and also enables a once a day
-// check to see if the weekly reports are ready to be uploaded.
-// It should only be called by cmd/go
-func StartWithUpload() {
+// MaybeParent does a once a day check to see if the weekly reports are
+// ready to be processed or uploaded, and if so, starts the telemetry child to
+// do so. It should only be called by cmd/go, and only after OpenCounters and MaybeChild
+// have already been called.
+func MaybeParent() {
+	if !openCountersCalled || !maybeChildCalled {
+		panic("MaybeParent must be called after OpenCounters and MaybeChild")
+	}
 	telemetry.Start(telemetry.Config{
 		Upload:       true,
 		TelemetryDir: os.Getenv("TEST_TELEMETRY_DIR"),
 	})
 }
 
+// MaybeChild executes the telemetry child logic if the calling program is
+// the telemetry child process, and does nothing otherwise. It is meant to be
+// called as the first thing in a program that uses telemetry.OpenCounters but cannot
+// call telemetry.OpenCounters immediately when it starts.
+func MaybeChild() {
+	maybeChildCalled = true
+	telemetry.MaybeChild(telemetry.Config{
+		Upload:       true,
+		TelemetryDir: os.Getenv("TEST_TELEMETRY_DIR"),
+	})
+}
+
 // Inc increments the counter with the given name.
 func Inc(name string) {
 	counter.Inc(name)
diff --git a/src/cmd/internal/telemetry/telemetry_bootstrap.go b/src/cmd/internal/telemetry/telemetry_bootstrap.go
index 1740bdb701..05c0ee1c56 100644
--- a/src/cmd/internal/telemetry/telemetry_bootstrap.go
+++ b/src/cmd/internal/telemetry/telemetry_bootstrap.go
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ type dummyCounter struct{}
 
 func (dc dummyCounter) Inc() {}
 
-func Start()                                                              {}
-func StartWithUpload()                                                    {}
+func OpenCounters()                                                       {}
+func MaybeParent()                                                        {}
+func MaybeChild()                                                         {}
 func Inc(name string)                                                     {}
 func NewCounter(name string) dummyCounter                                 { return dummyCounter{} }
 func NewStackCounter(name string, depth int) dummyCounter                 { return dummyCounter{} }
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/main.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/main.go
index 9f50ad183a..3183e1a13e 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/main.go
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func (t *ternaryFlag) IsBoolFlag() bool { return true } // parse like a boolean
 func Main(arch *sys.Arch, theArch Arch) {
 	log.SetPrefix("link: ")
 	log.SetFlags(0)
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	telemetry.Inc("link/invocations")
 
 	thearch = theArch
diff --git a/src/cmd/nm/nm.go b/src/cmd/nm/nm.go
index 62cf155362..e0d98d5f6c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/nm/nm.go
+++ b/src/cmd/nm/nm.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func (nflag) String() string {
 
 func main() {
 	log.SetFlags(0)
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	flag.Usage = usage
 	flag.Parse()
 	telemetry.Inc("nm/invocations")
diff --git a/src/cmd/objdump/main.go b/src/cmd/objdump/main.go
index bd1762636d..7554b5500c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/objdump/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/objdump/main.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func usage() {
 func main() {
 	log.SetFlags(0)
 	log.SetPrefix("objdump: ")
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 
 	flag.Usage = usage
 	flag.Parse()
diff --git a/src/cmd/pack/pack.go b/src/cmd/pack/pack.go
index 6d7eaf7e5b..28f217ace1 100644
--- a/src/cmd/pack/pack.go
+++ b/src/cmd/pack/pack.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func usage() {
 func main() {
 	log.SetFlags(0)
 	log.SetPrefix("pack: ")
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	// need "pack op archive" at least.
 	if len(os.Args) < 3 {
 		log.Print("not enough arguments")
diff --git a/src/cmd/pprof/pprof.go b/src/cmd/pprof/pprof.go
index 69d3201cdb..722b745287 100644
--- a/src/cmd/pprof/pprof.go
+++ b/src/cmd/pprof/pprof.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func main() {
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	telemetry.Inc("pprof/invocations")
 	options := &driver.Options{
 		Fetch: new(fetcher),
diff --git a/src/cmd/preprofile/main.go b/src/cmd/preprofile/main.go
index 78063c1463..1260eed104 100644
--- a/src/cmd/preprofile/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/preprofile/main.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	log.SetFlags(0)
 	log.SetPrefix("preprofile: ")
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 
 	flag.Usage = usage
 	flag.Parse()
diff --git a/src/cmd/test2json/main.go b/src/cmd/test2json/main.go
index 36e7cf90b5..844ee5aa6c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/test2json/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/test2json/main.go
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func ignoreSignals() {
 }
 
 func main() {
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 
 	flag.Usage = usage
 	flag.Parse()
diff --git a/src/cmd/trace/main.go b/src/cmd/trace/main.go
index 16721ef842..e48048b9f2 100644
--- a/src/cmd/trace/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/trace/main.go
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func main() {
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	flag.Usage = func() {
 		fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr, usageMessage)
 		os.Exit(2)
diff --git a/src/cmd/vet/main.go b/src/cmd/vet/main.go
index eff82dcc71..84821d43fc 100644
--- a/src/cmd/vet/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/vet/main.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func main() {
-	telemetry.Start()
+	telemetry.OpenCounters()
 	objabi.AddVersionFlag()
 
 	telemetry.Inc("vet/invocations")