diff --git a/package/network/utils/uqmi/files/lib/netifd/proto/qmi.sh b/package/network/utils/uqmi/files/lib/netifd/proto/qmi.sh
index f7b5f27ef6..9b2f69f009 100755
--- a/package/network/utils/uqmi/files/lib/netifd/proto/qmi.sh
+++ b/package/network/utils/uqmi/files/lib/netifd/proto/qmi.sh
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ proto_qmi_setup() {
 		return 1
 	}
 
+	echo "Waiting for SIM initialization"
+	local uninitialized_timeout=0
 	while uqmi -s -d "$device" --get-pin-status | grep '"UIM uninitialized"' > /dev/null; do
 		[ -e "$device" ] || return 1
 		if [ "$uninitialized_timeout" -lt "$timeout" ]; then