diff --git a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Init.c b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Init.c
index 922e7b35d..44e039296 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Init.c
+++ b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Init.c
@@ -1315,6 +1315,8 @@ InitInput(argc, argv)
 
     xf86Info.vtRequestsPending = FALSE;
 
+    mieqInit();
+
     /* Call the PreInit function for each input device instance. */
     for (pDev = xf86ConfigLayout.inputs; pDev && *pDev; pDev++) {
         /* Replace obsolete keyboard driver with kbd */
@@ -1324,8 +1326,6 @@ InitInput(argc, argv)
 
         xf86NewInputDevice(*pDev, &dev, TRUE);
     }
-
-    mieqInit();
 }
 
 /*