diff --git a/core/cli/packages.el b/core/cli/packages.el
index 8733d5dc7..d834e0432 100644
--- a/core/cli/packages.el
+++ b/core/cli/packages.el
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ list remains lean."
 
 This function will install any primary package (i.e. a package with a `package!'
 declaration) or dependency thereof that hasn't already been."
-  (print! (start "Installing & building packages..."))
   (straight--transaction-finalize)
+  (print! (start "Installing & building packages..."))
   (print-group!
    (let ((versions-alist doom-pinned-packages)
          (n 0))
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ declaration) or dependency thereof that hasn't already been."
 
 (defun doom-cli-packages-build (&optional force-p)
   "(Re)build all packages."
-  (print! (start "(Re)building %spackages...") (if force-p "all " ""))
   (straight--transaction-finalize)
+  (print! (start "(Re)building %spackages...") (if force-p "all " ""))
   (print-group!
    (let* ((n 0)
           (straight-check-for-modifications
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ declaration) or dependency thereof that hasn't already been."
 
 (defun doom-cli-packages-update ()
   "Updates packages."
-  (print! (start "Updating packages (this may take a while)..."))
   (straight--transaction-finalize)
+  (print! (start "Updating packages (this may take a while)..."))
   (let ((straight--repos-dir (straight--repos-dir))
         (straight--packages-to-rebuild (make-hash-table :test #'equal))
         (total (hash-table-count straight--repo-cache))
diff --git a/core/core-ui.el b/core/core-ui.el
index 7ea90354c..f19f988b5 100644
--- a/core/core-ui.el
+++ b/core/core-ui.el
@@ -277,9 +277,11 @@ windows, switch to `doom-fallback-buffer'. Otherwise, delegate to original
 (setq window-resize-pixelwise t
       frame-resize-pixelwise t)
 
-(unless EMACS27+  ; We already do this in early-init.el
-  ;; Disable tool and scrollbars; Doom encourages keyboard-centric workflows, so
-  ;; these are just clutter (the scrollbar also impacts Emacs' performance).
+(unless EMACS27+
+  ;; We do this in early-init.el too, but in case the user is on Emacs 26 we do
+  ;; it here too: disable tool and scrollbars, as Doom encourages
+  ;; keyboard-centric workflows, so these are just clutter (the scrollbar also
+  ;; impacts performance).
   (push '(menu-bar-lines . 0) default-frame-alist)
   (push '(tool-bar-lines . 0) default-frame-alist)
   (push '(vertical-scroll-bars) default-frame-alist))
diff --git a/early-init.el b/early-init.el
index cf3138571..02ba00bb2 100644
--- a/early-init.el
+++ b/early-init.el
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@
 (advice-add #'package--ensure-init-file :override #'ignore)
 
 ;; Prevent the glimpse of un-styled Emacs by disabling these UI elements early.
-(push '(menu-bar-lines . 0) default-frame-alist)
-(push '(tool-bar-lines . 0) default-frame-alist)
-(push '(vertical-scroll-bars) default-frame-alist)
+(setq tool-bar-mode nil
+      menu-bar-mode nil)
+(set-scroll-bar-mode nil)
 
 ;; Resizing the Emacs frame can be a terribly expensive part of changing the
 ;; font. By inhibiting this, we easily halve startup times with fonts that are