diff --git a/panda/src/pipeline/externalThread.cxx b/panda/src/pipeline/externalThread.cxx
index bf8b8e5a53..200461c30a 100644
--- a/panda/src/pipeline/externalThread.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pipeline/externalThread.cxx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ TypeHandle ExternalThread::_type_handle;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ExternalThread::
 ExternalThread() : Thread("External", "External") {
+  init_type();  // in case static init comes in the wrong order
   _started = true;
 }
 
diff --git a/panda/src/pipeline/mainThread.cxx b/panda/src/pipeline/mainThread.cxx
index 125442da75..e558c0cf77 100644
--- a/panda/src/pipeline/mainThread.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pipeline/mainThread.cxx
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ TypeHandle MainThread::_type_handle;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 MainThread::
 MainThread() : Thread("Main", "Main") {
+  init_type();  // in case static init comes in the wrong order
   _started = true;
 }