diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
index 9858abf7d..fbc86d010 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
@@ -184,8 +184,6 @@ class MainWindow(QWidget):
 
         self._keyhint = keyhintwidget.KeyHintView(self.win_id, self)
         self._add_overlay(self._keyhint, self._keyhint.update_geometry)
-        self._messageview = messageview.MessageView(parent=self)
-        self._add_overlay(self._messageview, self._messageview.update_geometry)
 
         self._prompt_container = prompt.PromptContainer(self.win_id, self)
         self._add_overlay(self._prompt_container,
@@ -195,6 +193,9 @@ class MainWindow(QWidget):
                         scope='window', window=self.win_id)
         self._prompt_container.hide()
 
+        self._messageview = messageview.MessageView(parent=self)
+        self._add_overlay(self._messageview, self._messageview.update_geometry)
+
         if geometry is not None:
             self._load_geometry(geometry)
         elif self.win_id == 0: