diff --git a/helper/ndn-app-helper.cpp b/helper/ndn-app-helper.cpp
index 0fe7f5c..fef02c8 100644
--- a/helper/ndn-app-helper.cpp
+++ b/helper/ndn-app-helper.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "ns3/names.h"
 
 #include "apps/ndn-app.hpp"
+#include "ndn-stack-helper.hpp"
 
 #ifdef NS3_MPI
 #include "ns3/mpi-interface.h"
@@ -96,8 +97,7 @@
         app = m_factory.Create<Application>();
         node->AddApplication(app);
       }));
-  Simulator::Stop(Seconds(0));
-  Simulator::Run();
+  StackHelper::ProcessWarmupEvents();
 
   return app;
 }
diff --git a/helper/ndn-stack-helper.cpp b/helper/ndn-stack-helper.cpp
index d2b8abb..863b191 100644
--- a/helper/ndn-stack-helper.cpp
+++ b/helper/ndn-stack-helper.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
 #include "ns3/node-list.h"
 #include "ns3/simulator.h"
 
+#if HAVE_NS3_VISUALIZER
+#include "../../visualizer/model/visual-simulator-impl.h"
+#endif // HAVE_NS3_VISUALIZER
+
 #include "model/ndn-l3-protocol.hpp"
 #include "model/ndn-net-device-transport.hpp"
 #include "utils/ndn-time.hpp"
@@ -174,8 +178,7 @@
     return;
   }
   Simulator::ScheduleWithContext(node->GetId(), Seconds(0), &StackHelper::doInstall, this, node);
-  Simulator::Stop(Seconds(0));
-  Simulator::Run(); // to automatically dispatch events on proper nodes
+  ProcessWarmupEvents();
 }
 
 void
@@ -393,9 +396,7 @@
 
   if (m_needSetDefaultRoutes) {
     // default route with lowest priority possible
-    Simulator::ScheduleWithContext(node->GetId(), Seconds(0), MakeEvent([=] {
-          FibHelper::AddRoute(node, "/", face, std::numeric_limits<int32_t>::max());
-        }));
+    FibHelper::AddRoute(node, "/", face, std::numeric_limits<int32_t>::max());
   }
   return face;
 }
@@ -435,5 +436,23 @@
   }
 }
 
+void
+StackHelper::ProcessWarmupEvents()
+{
+  Simulator::Stop(Seconds(0));
+#if HAVE_NS3_VISUALIZER
+  auto impl = DynamicCast<VisualSimulatorImpl>(Simulator::GetImplementation());
+  if (impl != nullptr) {
+    impl->RunRealSimulator();
+  }
+  else {
+    Simulator::Run();
+  }
+#else
+  Simulator::Run();
+#endif // HAVE_NS3_VISUALIZER
+}
+
+
 } // namespace ndn
 } // namespace ns3
diff --git a/helper/ndn-stack-helper.hpp b/helper/ndn-stack-helper.hpp
index 18ce308..1237a15 100644
--- a/helper/ndn-stack-helper.hpp
+++ b/helper/ndn-stack-helper.hpp
@@ -240,6 +240,9 @@
   static void
   SetLinkDelayAsFaceMetric();
 
+  static void
+  ProcessWarmupEvents();
+
 private:
   void
   doInstall(Ptr<Node> node) const;
diff --git a/helper/ndn-strategy-choice-helper.cpp b/helper/ndn-strategy-choice-helper.cpp
index 215d34b..43cd9fd 100644
--- a/helper/ndn-strategy-choice-helper.cpp
+++ b/helper/ndn-strategy-choice-helper.cpp
@@ -64,8 +64,7 @@
 
   Simulator::ScheduleWithContext(node->GetId(), Seconds(0),
                                  &StrategyChoiceHelper::sendCommand, parameters, node);
-  Simulator::Stop(Seconds(0));
-  Simulator::Run();
+  StackHelper::ProcessWarmupEvents();
 }
 
 void