diff --git a/src/app_main.c b/src/app_main.c
index 2a21dd7..bf0b7a3 100644
--- a/src/app_main.c
+++ b/src/app_main.c
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ static void app_task(void *arg)
 
     (void)arg;
     nl_flash_init();
+    nl_led_init(board); /* hardware init first (spec 3.4): LEDs dark before any flash/state scan */
     nl_resetcnt_init(base + NL_FL_RESETCNT);
     boots = nl_resetcnt_boot();
     nl_settings_init(base + NL_FL_SETTINGS_A, base + NL_FL_SETTINGS_B);
@@ -101,7 +102,6 @@ static void app_task(void *arg)
            s_settings.power_on_behaviour, s_settings.fade_in_ms, s_settings.fade_out_ms,
            have_last ? "yes" : "no");
 
-    nl_led_init(board);
     cfg.ct_min = board->ct_min;
     cfg.ct_max = board->ct_max;
     cfg.output = led_out;