diff --git a/lisp/telnet.el b/lisp/telnet.el
index 26160ac4df4..ad13c05915b 100644
--- a/lisp/telnet.el
+++ b/lisp/telnet.el
@@ -157,9 +157,9 @@ Normally input is edited in Emacs and sent a line at a time."
   (let ((name (concat arg "-telnet" )))
     (switch-to-buffer (make-comint name "telnet"))
     (set-process-filter (get-process name) 'telnet-initial-filter)
-    (erase-buffer)
     ;; Don't send the `open' cmd till telnet is ready for it.
     (accept-process-output (get-process name))
+    (erase-buffer)
     (send-string  name (concat "open " arg "\n"))
     (telnet-mode)
     (setq telnet-count telnet-initial-count)))