diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
index 95548aa242..ef258cfad8 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
@@ -4553,6 +4553,14 @@ int qemuProcessStart(virConnectPtr conn,
     if (ret == -1) /* The VM failed to start */
         goto cleanup;
 
+    VIR_DEBUG("Setting cgroup for emulator (if required)");
+    if (qemuSetupCgroupForEmulator(driver, vm, nodemask) < 0)
+        goto cleanup;
+
+    VIR_DEBUG("Setting affinity of emulator threads");
+    if (qemuProcessSetEmulatorAffinity(vm) < 0)
+        goto cleanup;
+
     VIR_DEBUG("Waiting for monitor to show up");
     if (qemuProcessWaitForMonitor(driver, vm, asyncJob, priv->qemuCaps, pos) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
@@ -4588,10 +4596,6 @@ int qemuProcessStart(virConnectPtr conn,
     if (qemuSetupCgroupForVcpu(vm) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
-    VIR_DEBUG("Setting cgroup for emulator (if required)");
-    if (qemuSetupCgroupForEmulator(driver, vm, nodemask) < 0)
-        goto cleanup;
-
     VIR_DEBUG("Setting cgroup for each IOThread (if required)");
     if (qemuSetupCgroupForIOThreads(vm) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
@@ -4600,10 +4604,6 @@ int qemuProcessStart(virConnectPtr conn,
     if (qemuProcessSetVcpuAffinities(vm) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
-    VIR_DEBUG("Setting affinity of emulator threads");
-    if (qemuProcessSetEmulatorAffinity(vm) < 0)
-        goto cleanup;
-
     VIR_DEBUG("Setting affinity of IOThread threads");
     if (qemuProcessSetIOThreadsAffinity(vm) < 0)
         goto cleanup;