diff --git a/sys/ia64/ia64/machdep.c b/sys/ia64/ia64/machdep.c
index 7bcde7c03422..8f48bd83f763 100644
--- a/sys/ia64/ia64/machdep.c
+++ b/sys/ia64/ia64/machdep.c
@@ -562,13 +562,6 @@ ia64_init(u_int64_t arg1, u_int64_t arg2)
 		}
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * Initialize the console before we print anything out.
-	 */
-	cninit();
- 
-	/* OUTPUT NOW ALLOWED */
-
 	/*
 	 * Look at arguments passed to us and compute boothowto.
 	 */
@@ -589,6 +582,13 @@ ia64_init(u_int64_t arg1, u_int64_t arg2)
 	if (boothowto & RB_VERBOSE)
 		bootverbose = 1;
 
+	/*
+	 * Initialize the console before we print anything out.
+	 */
+	cninit();
+ 
+	/* OUTPUT NOW ALLOWED */
+
 	/*
 	 * Wire things up so we can call the firmware.
 	 */