diff --git a/softmmu/vl.c b/softmmu/vl.c
index 0ed5c5ba93..7ddf405d76 100644
--- a/softmmu/vl.c
+++ b/softmmu/vl.c
@@ -3529,10 +3529,10 @@ void qemu_init(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
         exit(0);
     }
 
-    qemu_init_displays();
     if (!preconfig_requested) {
         qmp_x_exit_preconfig(&error_fatal);
     }
+    qemu_init_displays();
     accel_setup_post(current_machine);
     os_setup_post();
     resume_mux_open();