diff --git a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/App.java b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/App.java
index 9e3f53966..3eb7ea62a 100644
--- a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/App.java
+++ b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/App.java
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ public class App implements ApplicationListener {
             "xinput", "xbox", "game", "joy", "pad"
     };
 
-    public static InputStrober inputStrober;
+    public static InputStrober inputStrober; // set by IME.kt loading thread
 
     public static long bogoflops = 0L;
 
@@ -1275,13 +1275,12 @@ public class App implements ApplicationListener {
                 false,
                 64, false, 203f/255f, false
         );
-        Lang.invoke();
-
-        printdbg(this, "Font done at "+((System.nanoTime() - t1) / 1000000000.0)+" seconds");
 
         fontSmallNumbers = TinyAlphNum.INSTANCE;
         fontBigNumbers = BigAlphNum.INSTANCE;
 
+        printdbg(this, "Font done at "+((System.nanoTime() - t1) / 1000000000.0)+" seconds");
+
         try {
             audioDevice = Gdx.audio.newAudioDevice(48000, false);
         }
@@ -1290,14 +1289,19 @@ public class App implements ApplicationListener {
             System.err.println("[AppLoader] failed to create audio device: Audio device occupied by Exclusive Mode Device? (e.g. ASIO4all)");
         }
 
-        IME.invoke();
-        inputStrober = InputStrober.INSTANCE;
-        printdbg(this, "IME done (loading thread) at "+((System.nanoTime() - t1) / 1000000000.0)+" seconds");
+        printdbg(this, "AudioDevice done at "+((System.nanoTime() - t1) / 1000000000.0)+" seconds");
+
+        IME.invoke(); // calls `App.inputStrober = InputStrober` on our behalf
+        printdbg(this, "IME done at "+((System.nanoTime() - t1) / 1000000000.0)+" seconds");
 
         // Set GL thread reference for CommonResourcePool dispatch
         CommonResourcePool.INSTANCE.setGLThread(Thread.currentThread());
         // Launch loading thread for ModMgr + slow resource loading
         postInitLoadingThread = new Thread(() -> {
+            Lang.invoke();
+
+            printdbg(this, "Lang done (loading thread) at "+((System.nanoTime() - t1) / 1000000000.0)+" seconds");
+
             ModMgr.INSTANCE.invoke(); // triggers module init block + EntryPoint.invoke() calls
 
             printdbg(this, "ModMgr done (loading thread) at "+((System.nanoTime() - t1) / 1000000000.0)+" seconds");
diff --git a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/gamecontroller/IME.kt b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/gamecontroller/IME.kt
index b4cf745b3..b185911d3 100644
--- a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/gamecontroller/IME.kt
+++ b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/gamecontroller/IME.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package net.torvald.terrarum.gamecontroller
 
-import com.badlogic.gdx.Gdx
 import com.badlogic.gdx.files.FileHandle
 import com.badlogic.gdx.graphics.Pixmap
 import com.badlogic.gdx.graphics.g2d.TextureRegion
@@ -111,6 +110,8 @@ object IME {
                 printdbg(this, "Registering High layer ${it.nameWithoutExtension.lowercase()}")
                 registerHighLayer(it.nameWithoutExtension.lowercase(), parseImeFile(it))
             }
+
+            App.inputStrober = InputStrober
         }, "Terrarum-IMELoader")
         layoutLoadingThread.isDaemon = true
         layoutLoadingThread.start()