diff --git a/ui/console.c b/ui/console.c
index 436444723a..58f29e82c8 100644
--- a/ui/console.c
+++ b/ui/console.c
@@ -433,6 +433,8 @@ qemu_console_init(Object *obj)
     c->window_id = -1;
     c->ui_timer = timer_new_ms(QEMU_CLOCK_REALTIME,
                                dpy_set_ui_info_timer, c);
+    c->gl_unblock_timer = timer_new_ms(QEMU_CLOCK_REALTIME,
+                                       console_hw_gl_unblock_timer, c);
     qemu_console_register(c);
 }
 
@@ -1116,8 +1118,6 @@ QemuConsole *qemu_graphic_console_create(DeviceState *dev, uint32_t head,
 
     surface = qemu_create_placeholder_surface(width, height, noinit);
     qemu_console_set_surface(s, surface);
-    s->gl_unblock_timer = timer_new_ms(QEMU_CLOCK_REALTIME,
-                                       console_hw_gl_unblock_timer, s);
     return s;
 }