diff --git a/src/kernel/init.c b/src/kernel/init.c
index 6f189957..af462335 100644
--- a/src/kernel/init.c
+++ b/src/kernel/init.c
@@ -562,6 +562,13 @@ int GUIAPI InitGUI (int args, const char *agr[])
 
     _is_minigui_running = 1;
 
+    /* init timer for tick counter */
+    step++;
+    if (!mg_InitTimer()) {
+        _ERR_PRINTF ("KERNEL>InitGUI: failed to start time counter\n");
+        goto failure;
+    }
+
     step++;
     if (!SystemThreads()) {
         _ERR_PRINTF ("KERNEL>InitGUI: failed to init system threads!\n");
@@ -575,13 +582,6 @@ int GUIAPI InitGUI (int args, const char *agr[])
         goto failure;
     }
 
-    /* init timer for tick counter */
-    step++;
-    if (!mg_InitTimer()) {
-        _ERR_PRINTF ("KERNEL>InitGUI: failed to start time counter\n");
-        goto failure;
-    }
-
     SetKeyboardLayout ("default");
 
     SetCursor (GetSystemCursor (IDC_ARROW));