diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
index 2ecdeb8..992c779 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
@@ -406,6 +406,10 @@
     EGLSurface surface = hw->getEGLSurface();
     initializeGL(display, surface);
 
+    // start the EventThread
+    mEventThread = new EventThread(this);
+    mEventQueue.setEventThread(mEventThread);
+
     // initialize the H/W composer
     mHwc = new HWComposer(this,
             *static_cast<HWComposer::EventHandler *>(this),
@@ -414,10 +418,6 @@
         mHwc->setFrameBuffer(display, surface);
     }
 
-    // start the EventThread
-    mEventThread = new EventThread(this);
-    mEventQueue.setEventThread(mEventThread);
-
     // We're now ready to accept clients...
     mReadyToRunBarrier.open();