diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 1bf76631d..c29145e38 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -1027,6 +1027,9 @@ bool AppInit2()
     if (fServer)
         NewThread(ThreadRPCServer, NULL);
 
+    // Generate coins in the background
+    GenerateBitcoins(GetBoolArg("-gen", false), pwalletMain);
+
     // ********************************************************* Step 12: finished
 
     uiInterface.InitMessage(_("Done loading"));
diff --git a/src/net.cpp b/src/net.cpp
index 9ee6cb423..6f3c8a51a 100644
--- a/src/net.cpp
+++ b/src/net.cpp
@@ -2047,9 +2047,6 @@ void StartNode(void* parg)
     // Dump network addresses
     if (!NewThread(ThreadDumpAddress, NULL))
         printf("Error; NewThread(ThreadDumpAddress) failed\n");
-
-    // Generate coins in the background
-    GenerateBitcoins(GetBoolArg("-gen", false), pwalletMain);
 }
 
 bool StopNode()