diff --git a/src/lib/hardwaremain.c b/src/lib/hardwaremain.c
index 56f3f29..b3c0c35 100644
--- a/src/lib/hardwaremain.c
+++ b/src/lib/hardwaremain.c
@@ -432,6 +432,11 @@
 
 void main(void)
 {
+	/* TODO: Understand why this is here and move to arch/platform code. */
+	/* For MMIO UART this needs to be called before any other printk. */
+	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_ARCH_X86))
+		init_timer();
+
 	/* console_init() MUST PRECEDE ALL printk()! Additionally, ensure
 	 * it is the very first thing done in ramstage.*/
 	console_init();
@@ -463,10 +468,6 @@
 	/* Schedule the static boot state entries. */
 	boot_state_schedule_static_entries();
 
-	/* TODO: Understand why this is here and move to arch/platform code. */
-	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_ARCH_X86))
-		init_timer();
-
 	bs_walk_state_machine();
 
 	die("Boot state machine failure.\n");