diff --git a/package/network/utils/uqmi/files/lib/netifd/proto/qmi.sh b/package/network/utils/uqmi/files/lib/netifd/proto/qmi.sh
index 38d83ace5f..05055b1484 100755
--- a/package/network/utils/uqmi/files/lib/netifd/proto/qmi.sh
+++ b/package/network/utils/uqmi/files/lib/netifd/proto/qmi.sh
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ proto_qmi_setup() {
 		return 1
 	}
 
+	[ -n "$delay" ] && sleep "$delay"
+
 	device="$(readlink -f $device)"
 	[ -c "$device" ] || {
 		echo "The specified control device does not exist"
@@ -62,8 +64,6 @@ proto_qmi_setup() {
 		return 1
 	}
 
-	[ -n "$delay" ] && sleep "$delay"
-
 	while uqmi -s -d "$device" --get-pin-status | grep '"UIM uninitialized"' > /dev/null; do
 		[ -e "$device" ] || return 1
 		sleep 1;