diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_dashboard.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_dashboard.py
index 2f48db3e3..896efb96c 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_dashboard.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_dashboard.py
@@ -236,13 +236,6 @@ def main():
     )
     atexit_register_coroutine(d_waveform.stop, loop=loop)
 
-    def init_cbs(ddb):
-        moninj_mgr.dm.init_ddb(ddb)
-        d_waveform.init_ddb(ddb)
-        return ddb
-    devices_sub = Subscriber("devices", init_cbs, [moninj_mgr.dm.notify_ddb, d_waveform.notify_ddb])
-    loop.run_until_complete(devices_sub.connect(args.server, args.port_notify))
-    atexit_register_coroutine(devices_sub.close, loop=loop)
 
     d_interactive_args = interactive_args.InteractiveArgsDock(
         sub_clients["interactive_args"],
@@ -278,7 +271,18 @@ def main():
         # Otherwise, the windows of those applets that are in detached
         # QDockWidgets fail to be embedded.
         main_window.show()
+
     smgr.load()
+
+    # connect devices_sub after loading state, else moninj widgets may not be created
+    def init_cbs(ddb):
+        moninj_mgr.dm.init_ddb(ddb)
+        d_waveform.init_ddb(ddb)
+        return ddb
+    devices_sub = Subscriber("devices", init_cbs, [moninj_mgr.dm.notify_ddb, d_waveform.notify_ddb])
+    loop.run_until_complete(devices_sub.connect(args.server, args.port_notify))
+
+    atexit_register_coroutine(devices_sub.close, loop=loop)
     smgr.start(loop=loop)
     atexit_register_coroutine(smgr.stop, loop=loop)