diff --git a/package/base-files/brcm/etc/preinit b/package/base-files/brcm/etc/preinit
index 9c7f9448c9..30aed35518 100755
--- a/package/base-files/brcm/etc/preinit
+++ b/package/base-files/brcm/etc/preinit
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ sleep 2
 eval ${FAILSAFE:+failsafe}
 
 lock -w /tmp/.failsafe
+set_state preinit
 echo /sbin/hotplug > /proc/sys/kernel/hotplug
 
 ifconfig $ifname 0.0.0.0 down