diff --git a/rootdir/init.rc b/rootdir/init.rc
index d48b892b1..ff96c1407 100644
--- a/rootdir/init.rc
+++ b/rootdir/init.rc
@@ -301,6 +301,9 @@ on post-fs
     start logd
     start hwservicemanager
 
+    # HALs required before data is mounted
+    class_start early_hal
+
     # once everything is setup, no need to modify /
     mount rootfs rootfs / ro remount
     # Mount shared so changes propagate into child namespaces