diff --git a/modules/ui/modeline/config.el b/modules/ui/modeline/config.el
index 77680164e..e66bdeebd 100644
--- a/modules/ui/modeline/config.el
+++ b/modules/ui/modeline/config.el
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@
 (def-package! doom-modeline
   :hook (after-init . doom-modeline-mode)
   :init
-  ;; prevent flash of unstyled modeline at startup
-  (setq-default mode-line-format nil)
+  (unless after-init-time
+    ;; prevent flash of unstyled modeline at startup
+    (setq-default mode-line-format nil))
   ;; We display project info in the modeline ourselves
   (setq projectile-dynamic-mode-line nil)
   ;; Set these early so they don't trigger variable watchers