diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index 04eff1925..b3e299a80 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -207,12 +207,6 @@ def _init_icon():
 
 def _process_args(args):
     """Open startpage etc. and process commandline args."""
-    for opt, val in args.temp_settings:
-        try:
-            config.instance.set_str(opt, val)
-        except configexc.Error as e:
-            message.error("set: {} - {}".format(e.__class__.__name__, e))
-
     if not args.override_restore:
         _load_session(args.session)
     session_manager = objreg.get('session-manager')
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configinit.py b/qutebrowser/config/configinit.py
index 6b4553626..2bbed56e5 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configinit.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configinit.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QMessageBox
 
 from qutebrowser.config import (config, configdata, configfiles, configtypes,
                                 configexc)
-from qutebrowser.utils import objreg, usertypes, log, standarddir
+from qutebrowser.utils import objreg, usertypes, log, standarddir, message
 from qutebrowser.misc import msgbox, objects
 
 
@@ -70,6 +70,12 @@ def early_init(args):
 
     objects.backend = get_backend(args)
 
+    for opt, val in args.temp_settings:
+        try:
+            config.instance.set_str(opt, val)
+        except configexc.Error as e:
+            message.error("set: {} - {}".format(e.__class__.__name__, e))
+
     if (objects.backend == usertypes.Backend.QtWebEngine and
             config.val.force_software_rendering):
         os.environ['QT_XCB_FORCE_SOFTWARE_OPENGL'] = '1'