diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 423752c..bff9832 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ static void *display_thread(void *arg) {
 		.baud = 0010002, // from termios-baud.h, B115200
 	};
 	lcd_init(&lcd);
+	lcd_set_brightness(&lcd, 255);
 	lcd_set_backlight(&lcd, true);
 	lcd_set_contrast(&lcd, lcd_contrast);
 
@@ -175,7 +176,6 @@ static void *display_thread(void *arg) {
 	}
 
 	lcd_write_buf(&lcd, 2, 16, "Goodbye"); // center
-	lcd_set_backlight(&lcd, false);
 	lcd_flush_buf(&lcd);
 	lcd_close(&lcd);
 	applog(LOG_WRN, "display thread stopped");