diff --git a/src/gtk/app.cpp b/src/gtk/app.cpp
index bc09ab8263..1bf855421b 100644
--- a/src/gtk/app.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/app.cpp
@@ -803,10 +803,11 @@ int wxEntryStart( int& argc, char *argv[] )
     if (!wxOKlibc()) wxConvCurrent = (wxMBConv*) NULL;
 #endif
 
-    gdk_threads_enter();
-
     gtk_init( &argc, &argv );
 
+    /* we can not enter threads before gtk_init is done */
+    gdk_threads_enter();
+
     wxSetDetectableAutoRepeat( TRUE );
 
     if (!wxApp::Initialize())
diff --git a/src/gtk1/app.cpp b/src/gtk1/app.cpp
index bc09ab8263..1bf855421b 100644
--- a/src/gtk1/app.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk1/app.cpp
@@ -803,10 +803,11 @@ int wxEntryStart( int& argc, char *argv[] )
     if (!wxOKlibc()) wxConvCurrent = (wxMBConv*) NULL;
 #endif
 
-    gdk_threads_enter();
-
     gtk_init( &argc, &argv );
 
+    /* we can not enter threads before gtk_init is done */
+    gdk_threads_enter();
+
     wxSetDetectableAutoRepeat( TRUE );
 
     if (!wxApp::Initialize())