diff --git a/progress.go b/progress.go
index 797dbb1..cda4458 100644
--- a/progress.go
+++ b/progress.go
@@ -203,8 +203,6 @@
 func (p *Progress) serve(s *pState, cw *cwriter.Writer) {
 	defer p.cwg.Done()
 
-	p.refreshCh = s.newTicker(p.done)
-
 	render := func(debugOut io.Writer) {
 		err := s.render(cw)
 		for err != nil {
@@ -216,6 +214,8 @@
 			debugOut = nil
 		}
 	}
+
+	p.refreshCh = s.newTicker(p.done)
 
 	for {
 		select {