diff --git a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
index ee410aa60fd..dfeba6b8d70 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
@@ -703,6 +703,13 @@ QgisApp::QgisApp( QSplashScreen *splash, bool restorePlugins, bool skipVersionCh
   mSplash->showMessage( tr( "Setting up the GUI" ), Qt::AlignHCenter | Qt::AlignBottom );
   qApp->processEvents();
 
+  QgsApplication::initQgis();
+  if ( !QgsApplication::authManager()->isDisabled() )
+  {
+    // Most of the auth initialization is now done inside initQgis, no need to profile here
+    masterPasswordSetup();
+  }
+
   QgsSettings settings;
 
   startProfile( QStringLiteral( "Building style sheet" ) );
@@ -1032,13 +1039,6 @@ QgisApp::QgisApp( QSplashScreen *splash, bool restorePlugins, bool skipVersionCh
   // load providers
   mSplash->showMessage( tr( "Checking provider plugins" ), Qt::AlignHCenter | Qt::AlignBottom );
   qApp->processEvents();
-  QgsApplication::initQgis();
-
-  if ( !QgsApplication::authManager()->isDisabled() )
-  {
-    // Most of the auth initialization is now done inside initQgis, no need to profile here
-    masterPasswordSetup();
-  }
 
   // Setup QgsNetworkAccessManager (this needs to happen after authentication, for proxy settings)
   namSetup();