diff --git a/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/interleave.py b/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/interleave.py
index 3539899bb..c2af32110 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/interleave.py
+++ b/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/interleave.py
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ def set_state(self, state):
           iterator = _add_prefetch_and_make_iterator(
               self._datasets[index_in_datasets],
               interleave_iterator=weakref.ref(self),
-              start_prefetch=False,
+              start_prefetch=self._started,
           )
         iterator.set_state(it_state)
         self._iterators_in_use[index_in_cycle] = iterator
@@ -238,6 +238,13 @@ def _set_next_index(self, index: int) -> None:
           " more than one dataset."
       )
 
+  def start_prefetch(self) -> None:
+    self._prefetch_ds_iter.start_prefetch()
+    for iterator in self._iterators_in_use:
+      if iterator is not None:
+        iterator.start_prefetch()
+    self._started = True
+
   def close(self) -> None:
     """Closes the iterator and shuts down the iterator prefetching."""
     if self._closed:
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/interleave_test.py b/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/interleave_test.py
index c5d647307..af2b0eff0 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/interleave_test.py
+++ b/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/interleave_test.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+import time
+
 from absl.testing import absltest
 from absl.testing import flagsaver
 from absl.testing import parameterized
@@ -291,6 +293,22 @@ def test_set_next_index_with_multiple_datasets(self):
     ):
       dataset.set_next_index(ds_iter, 0)
 
+  def test_start_prefetch(self):
+    count = 0
+
+    def map_fn(x):
+      nonlocal count
+      count += 1
+      return x
+
+    ds = dataset.MapDataset.range(10).to_iter_dataset()
+    ds = ds.map(map_fn)
+    ds = interleave.InterleaveIterDataset([ds], cycle_length=1)
+    ds_iter = ds.__iter__()
+    ds_iter.start_prefetch()
+    while count == 0:
+      time.sleep(0.1)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
   absltest.main()
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/process_prefetch_test.py b/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/process_prefetch_test.py
index 6d4fe45d8..fa033302c 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/process_prefetch_test.py
+++ b/grain/_src/python/dataset/transformations/process_prefetch_test.py
@@ -48,6 +48,16 @@ def filter(self, element: int) -> bool:
     return bool(element % 2)
 
 
+@dataclasses.dataclass(frozen=True)
+class WriteMarker(transforms.Map):
+  path: str
+
+  def map(self, element: int) -> int:
+    with open(self.path, 'w') as f:
+      f.write(str(element))
+    return element
+
+
 class ProcessPrefetchIterDatasetTest(parameterized.TestCase):
 
   def setUp(self):
@@ -782,10 +792,22 @@ def map(self, features):
     if not start_prefetch_calls:
       self.assertGreater(time_to_fetch, 1)
 
+  def test_start_prefetch_prefetches_without_next_call(self):
+    marker_file = os.path.join(self.create_tempdir().full_path, 'marker')
+    ds = dataset.MapDataset.range(10)
+    ds = ds.map(WriteMarker(marker_file))
+    ds = ds.to_iter_dataset()
+    ds = process_prefetch.multiprocess_prefetch(ds, num_workers=1)
+    it = ds.__iter__()
+    it.start_prefetch()
+
+    # Wait for prefetch to happen.
+    while not os.path.exists(marker_file):
+      time.sleep(0.5)
+
   @parameterized.parameters(0, 0.5, 30)
   def test_prefetch_but_no_read(self, sleep_s):
     ds = dataset.MapDataset.source([1, 2, 3]).repeat()
-    ds = ds.filter(lambda x: x > 3)
     ds = ds.to_iter_dataset()
     ds = process_prefetch.multiprocess_prefetch(ds, num_workers=1)
     it = ds.__iter__()