diff --git a/src/Main/main.cxx b/src/Main/main.cxx
index 74e30dff8..c9e7f3f81 100644
--- a/src/Main/main.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/main.cxx
@@ -617,6 +617,11 @@ static void fgMainLoop( void ) {
 static void fgIdleFunction ( void ) {
     if ( idle_state == 0 ) {
         idle_state++;
+
+#ifdef GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias
+        // negative values sharpen, positive values blur mipmapped textures
+        glTexEnvf( GL_TEXTURE_FILTER_CONTROL_EXT, GL_TEXTURE_LOD_BIAS_EXT, -0.5 ) ;
+#endif
         fgSplashProgress("setting up scenegraph & user interface");
 
 
@@ -655,10 +660,6 @@ static void fgIdleFunction ( void ) {
         // Read the list of available aircrafts
         fgReadAircraft();
 
-#ifdef GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias
-        glTexEnvf( GL_TEXTURE_FILTER_CONTROL_EXT, GL_TEXTURE_LOD_BIAS_EXT, -0.5 ) ;
-#endif
-
         // get the address of our OpenGL extensions
         if (SGIsOpenGLExtensionSupported("GL_EXT_point_parameters") ) {
             glPointParameterIsSupported = true;