diff --git a/py/runtime.c b/py/runtime.c
index f5d219728f..c3ada72296 100644
--- a/py/runtime.c
+++ b/py/runtime.c
@@ -69,11 +69,10 @@ void mp_init(void) {
     // no pending exceptions to start with
     MP_STATE_THREAD(mp_pending_exception) = MP_OBJ_NULL;
     #if MICROPY_ENABLE_SCHEDULER
+    // no pending callbacks to start with
+    MP_STATE_VM(sched_state) = MP_SCHED_IDLE;
     #if MICROPY_SCHEDULER_STATIC_NODES
-    if (MP_STATE_VM(sched_head) == NULL) {
-        // no pending callbacks to start with
-        MP_STATE_VM(sched_state) = MP_SCHED_IDLE;
-    } else {
+    if (MP_STATE_VM(sched_head) != NULL) {
         // pending callbacks are on the list, eg from before a soft reset
         MP_STATE_VM(sched_state) = MP_SCHED_PENDING;
     }