diff --git a/src/Main/fg_commands.cxx b/src/Main/fg_commands.cxx
index 46c6851b3..e3b6be0c0 100644
--- a/src/Main/fg_commands.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/fg_commands.cxx
@@ -1211,7 +1211,15 @@ do_play_audio_sample (const SGPropertyNode * arg)
 static bool
 do_presets_commit (const SGPropertyNode * arg)
 {
-    fgReInitSubsystems();
+    if (fgGetBool("/sim/initialized", false)) {
+      fgReInitSubsystems();
+    } else {
+      // Nasal can trigger this during initial init, which confuses
+      // the logic in ReInitSubsystems, since initial state has not been
+      // saved at that time. Short-circuit everything here.
+      fgInitPosition();
+    }
+    
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/Main/fg_init.cxx b/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
index 024e6e2f7..65be585e4 100644
--- a/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
@@ -1491,6 +1491,8 @@ bool fgInitSubsystems() {
     // End of subsystem initialization.
     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+    fgSetBool("/sim/initialized", true);
+
     SG_LOG( SG_GENERAL, SG_INFO, endl);
 
                                 // Save the initial state for future