diff --git a/src/etc/rc.bootup b/src/etc/rc.bootup
index 3304a490c..1f7387588 100755
--- a/src/etc/rc.bootup
+++ b/src/etc/rc.bootup
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ system_devd_configure(true);
 system_login_configure(true);
 
 /*
- *  Determine if we need to throw a interface exception
+ *  Determine if we need to throw an interface exception
  *  and ask the user to reassign interfaces.  This will
  *  avoid a reboot and thats a good thing.
  */
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ if (is_interface_mismatch()) {
     while (!set_networking_interfaces_ports(true));
 }
 
+/* loopback device is required early for syslog */
+interfaces_loopback_configure(true);
+
 system_kernel_configure(true);
 system_sysctl_configure(true);
 system_timezone_configure(true);
@@ -110,6 +113,10 @@ services_dhcrelay6_configure(true);
 prefer_ipv4_or_ipv6();
 filter_configure_sync(true);
 
+/* generate configuration data for all installed templates */
+configd_run('template reload *');
+
+/* start all registered bootup plugins */
 plugins_configure('bootup', true);
 
 /* start IPsec tunnels */
@@ -130,9 +137,6 @@ if ($ipsec_dynamic_hosts) {
     ipsec_configure_do(true);
 }
 
-// generate configuration data for all installed templates
-configd_run('template reload *');
-
 if (is_install_media()) {
     /*
      * Installer mode requires setting up an extra user and