diff --git a/src/benchmark.cc b/src/benchmark.cc
index 60354914..f8c01343 100644
--- a/src/benchmark.cc
+++ b/src/benchmark.cc
@@ -678,9 +678,9 @@ void PrintDefaultHelp() {
 }
 
 void Initialize(int* argc, char** argv, void (*HelperPrintf)()) {
+  internal::HelperPrintf = HelperPrintf;
   internal::ParseCommandLineFlags(argc, argv);
   internal::LogLevel() = FLAGS_v;
-  internal::HelperPrintf = HelperPrintf;
 }
 
 void Shutdown() { delete internal::global_context; }