diff --git a/src/emacs.c b/src/emacs.c
index 7ae572120f6..11fe567737a 100644
--- a/src/emacs.c
+++ b/src/emacs.c
@@ -2050,10 +2050,6 @@ Using an Emacs configured with --with-x-toolkit=lucid does not have this problem
 #endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_NS
-  /* For early calls to ns_lisp_to_color or Fns_list_colors.  */
-  if (!dump_mode)
-    ns_init_colors ();
-
   if (!noninteractive)
     {
 #ifdef NS_IMPL_COCOA
@@ -2293,6 +2289,13 @@ Using an Emacs configured with --with-x-toolkit=lucid does not have this problem
   check_windows_init_file ();
 #endif
 
+#ifdef HAVE_NS
+  /* For early calls to ns_lisp_to_color or Fns_list_colors.
+     Must follow init_callproc which sets data-directory.  */
+  if (!dump_mode)
+    ns_init_colors ();
+#endif
+
   /* Intern the names of all standard functions and variables;
      define standard keys.  */