diff --git a/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp b/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp
index 307a5d85b..b3841afe2 100644
--- a/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp
@@ -290,9 +290,6 @@ void NodeDB::installDefaultDeviceState()
 
     generatePacketId(); // FIXME - ugly way to init current_packet_id;
 
-    // Init our blank owner info to reasonable defaults
-    getMacAddr(ourMacAddr);
-
     // Set default owner name
     pickNewNodeNum(); // based on macaddr now
     snprintf(owner.long_name, sizeof(owner.long_name), "Meshtastic %02x%02x", ourMacAddr[4], ourMacAddr[5]);
@@ -378,6 +375,8 @@ void NodeDB::pickNewNodeNum()
 {
     NodeNum r = myNodeInfo.my_node_num;
 
+    getMacAddr(ourMacAddr); // Make sure ourMacAddr is set
+
     // Pick an initial nodenum based on the macaddr
     r = (ourMacAddr[2] << 24) | (ourMacAddr[3] << 16) | (ourMacAddr[4] << 8) | ourMacAddr[5];