diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
index 91bb7358..035e06a7 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -807,15 +807,6 @@ void MyMesh::begin(bool has_display) {
 
   radio_set_params(_prefs.freq, _prefs.bw, _prefs.sf, _prefs.cr);
   radio_set_tx_power(_prefs.tx_power_dbm);
-
-#if ENV_INCLUDE_GPS == 1
-  sensors.setSettingValue("gps", _prefs.gps_enabled ? "1" : "0");
-  if (_prefs.gps_interval > 0) {
-    char interval_str[12];  // Max: 24 hours = 86400 seconds (5 digits + null)
-    sprintf(interval_str, "%u", _prefs.gps_interval);
-    sensors.setSettingValue("gps_interval", interval_str);
-  }
-#endif
 }
 
 const char *MyMesh::getNodeName() {
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
index 82c8c21d..15b461f3 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
@@ -216,6 +216,16 @@ void setup() {
 
   sensors.begin();
 
+#if ENV_INCLUDE_GPS == 1
+  // Apply GPS preferences after sensors.begin() so gps_detected is set
+  sensors.setSettingValue("gps", the_mesh.getNodePrefs()->gps_enabled ? "1" : "0");
+  if (the_mesh.getNodePrefs()->gps_interval > 0) {
+    char interval_str[12];
+    sprintf(interval_str, "%u", the_mesh.getNodePrefs()->gps_interval);
+    sensors.setSettingValue("gps_interval", interval_str);
+  }
+#endif
+
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
   ui_task.begin(disp, &sensors, the_mesh.getNodePrefs());  // still want to pass this in as dependency, as prefs might be moved
 #endif