Proteins, the pillars of cellular function, often assemble into ‘complexes’ to fulfill their functions. A study reveals why this assembly often begins during the very process of protein synthesis or ‘birth’. These early interactions involve proteins whose stability depends on their association. They can be compared to a couple in which each partner supports the other. This model paves the way for new strategies to understand and correct assembly errors, which are often associated with pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders and certain cancers.