diff --git a/packages/entity/traits/index.js b/packages/entity/traits/index.js
index 2cf81ea..bc0ef31 100644
--- a/packages/entity/traits/index.js
+++ b/packages/entity/traits/index.js
@@ -88,6 +88,14 @@ export class Traits {
     // Instantiate.
     const {params, state} = json;
     const instance = new Trait(this.entity_PRIVATE, params, state);
+    // Proxy properties.
+    const properties = enumerateProperties(Trait.prototype);
+    for (const key in properties) {
+      properties[key].instance = instance;
+      this.properties_PRIVATE[key] = properties[key];
+    }
+    // Let the Trait do its initialization.
+    instance.initialize();
     // Attach listeners.
     const listeners = instance.listeners();
     for (const eventName in listeners) {
@@ -110,14 +118,6 @@ export class Traits {
         type: Trait.type(),
       });
     }
-    // Proxy properties.
-    const properties = enumerateProperties(Trait.prototype);
-    for (const key in properties) {
-      properties[key].instance = instance;
-      this.properties_PRIVATE[key] = properties[key];
-    }
-    // Let the Trait do its initialization.
-    instance.initialize();
     // Add state.
     this._setInstanceState(type, instance);
     // Track trait.