diff --git a/src/emu/machine.cpp b/src/emu/machine.cpp
index 68bf7dc74d9..1b00ddfcfd9 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/machine.cpp
@@ -265,6 +265,15 @@ void running_machine::start()
 	save().register_postload(save_prepost_delegate(FUNC(running_machine::postload_all_devices), this));
 	manager().load_cheatfiles(*this);
 
+	// start recording movie if specified
+	const char *filename = options().mng_write();
+	if (filename[0] != 0)
+		m_video->begin_recording(filename, video_manager::MF_MNG);
+
+	filename = options().avi_write();
+	if (filename[0] != 0)
+		m_video->begin_recording(filename, video_manager::MF_AVI);
+
 	// if we're coming in with a savegame request, process it now
 	const char *savegame = options().state();
 	if (savegame[0] != 0)
diff --git a/src/emu/video.cpp b/src/emu/video.cpp
index e253afcfc4a..bac84788307 100644
--- a/src/emu/video.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/video.cpp
@@ -166,16 +166,7 @@ video_manager::video_manager(running_machine &machine)
 	// extract snap resolution if present
 	if (sscanf(machine.options().snap_size(), "%dx%d", &m_snap_width, &m_snap_height) != 2)
 		m_snap_width = m_snap_height = 0;
-
-	// start recording movie if specified
-	const char *filename = machine.options().mng_write();
-	if (filename[0] != 0)
-		begin_recording(filename, MF_MNG);
-
-	filename = machine.options().avi_write();
-	if (filename[0] != 0)
-		begin_recording(filename, MF_AVI);
-
+	
 	// if no screens, create a periodic timer to drive updates
 	if (no_screens)
 	{