diff --git a/src/node.cc b/src/node.cc
index 70f91414f3..9b7f247998 100644
--- a/src/node.cc
+++ b/src/node.cc
@@ -2486,11 +2486,13 @@ void EmitExit(v8::Handle<v8::Object> process) {
 
 int Start(int argc, char *argv[]) {
   uv_init();
-  v8::V8::Initialize();
-  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
 
+  // This needs to run *before* V8::Initialize()
   argv = Init(argc, argv);
 
+  v8::V8::Initialize();
+  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
+
   // Create the one and only Context.
   Persistent<v8::Context> context = v8::Context::New();
   v8::Context::Scope context_scope(context);