diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 36328ffb47..86cad9896f 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -722,36 +722,6 @@ static void icount_adjust_vm(void * opaque)
     icount_adjust();
 }
 
-static void configure_icount(const char *option)
-{
-    if (!option)
-        return;
-
-    if (strcmp(option, "auto") != 0) {
-        icount_time_shift = strtol(option, NULL, 0);
-        use_icount = 1;
-        return;
-    }
-
-    use_icount = 2;
-
-    /* 125MIPS seems a reasonable initial guess at the guest speed.
-       It will be corrected fairly quickly anyway.  */
-    icount_time_shift = 3;
-
-    /* Have both realtime and virtual time triggers for speed adjustment.
-       The realtime trigger catches emulated time passing too slowly,
-       the virtual time trigger catches emulated time passing too fast.
-       Realtime triggers occur even when idle, so use them less frequently
-       than VM triggers.  */
-    icount_rt_timer = qemu_new_timer(rt_clock, icount_adjust_rt, NULL);
-    qemu_mod_timer(icount_rt_timer,
-                   qemu_get_clock(rt_clock) + 1000);
-    icount_vm_timer = qemu_new_timer(vm_clock, icount_adjust_vm, NULL);
-    qemu_mod_timer(icount_vm_timer,
-                   qemu_get_clock(vm_clock) + get_ticks_per_sec() / 10);
-}
-
 static int64_t qemu_icount_round(int64_t count)
 {
     return (count + (1 << icount_time_shift) - 1) >> icount_time_shift;
@@ -1056,6 +1026,37 @@ static const VMStateDescription vmstate_timers = {
     }
 };
 
+static void configure_icount(const char *option)
+{
+    vmstate_register(0, &vmstate_timers, &timers_state);
+    if (!option)
+        return;
+
+    if (strcmp(option, "auto") != 0) {
+        icount_time_shift = strtol(option, NULL, 0);
+        use_icount = 1;
+        return;
+    }
+
+    use_icount = 2;
+
+    /* 125MIPS seems a reasonable initial guess at the guest speed.
+       It will be corrected fairly quickly anyway.  */
+    icount_time_shift = 3;
+
+    /* Have both realtime and virtual time triggers for speed adjustment.
+       The realtime trigger catches emulated time passing too slowly,
+       the virtual time trigger catches emulated time passing too fast.
+       Realtime triggers occur even when idle, so use them less frequently
+       than VM triggers.  */
+    icount_rt_timer = qemu_new_timer(rt_clock, icount_adjust_rt, NULL);
+    qemu_mod_timer(icount_rt_timer,
+                   qemu_get_clock(rt_clock) + 1000);
+    icount_vm_timer = qemu_new_timer(vm_clock, icount_adjust_vm, NULL);
+    qemu_mod_timer(icount_vm_timer,
+                   qemu_get_clock(vm_clock) + get_ticks_per_sec() / 10);
+}
+
 static void qemu_run_all_timers(void)
 {
     /* rearm timer, if not periodic */
@@ -5943,7 +5944,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
     if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_drive_opts, drive_init_func, machine, 1) != 0)
         exit(1);
 
-    vmstate_register(0, &vmstate_timers ,&timers_state);
     register_savevm_live("ram", 0, 3, NULL, ram_save_live, NULL, 
                          ram_load, NULL);