diff --git a/jetty-servlet/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/servlet/ServletHolder.java b/jetty-servlet/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/servlet/ServletHolder.java
index 6de3b7e48bf..1e50dd1249d 100644
--- a/jetty-servlet/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/servlet/ServletHolder.java
+++ b/jetty-servlet/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/servlet/ServletHolder.java
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public class ServletHolder extends Holder<Servlet> implements UserIdentity.Scope
     private static final Logger LOG = Log.getLogger(ServletHolder.class);
 
     /* ---------------------------------------------------------------- */
-    private int _initOrder;
+    private int _initOrder = -1;
     private boolean _initOnStartup=false;
     private Map<String, String> _roleMap;
     private String _forcedPath;
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ public class ServletHolder extends Holder<Servlet> implements UserIdentity.Scope
      */
     public void setInitOrder(int order)
     {
-        _initOnStartup=order>0;
+        _initOnStartup=order>=0;
         _initOrder = order;
     }
 
@@ -329,7 +329,6 @@ public class ServletHolder extends Holder<Servlet> implements UserIdentity.Scope
     throws Exception
     {
         super.initialize();
-        
         if (_extInstance || _initOnStartup)
         {
             try
diff --git a/jetty-servlet/src/test/java/org/eclipse/jetty/servlet/ServletContextHandlerTest.java b/jetty-servlet/src/test/java/org/eclipse/jetty/servlet/ServletContextHandlerTest.java
index 4c06368b4bd..b923e53d8cb 100644
--- a/jetty-servlet/src/test/java/org/eclipse/jetty/servlet/ServletContextHandlerTest.java
+++ b/jetty-servlet/src/test/java/org/eclipse/jetty/servlet/ServletContextHandlerTest.java
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ public class ServletContextHandlerTest
         
         holder0.setInitOrder(0);
         _server.start();
-        assertEquals(2,__testServlets.get());
-        assertThat(holder0.getServletInstance(),nullValue());
+        assertEquals(3,__testServlets.get());
+        assertThat(holder0.getServletInstance(),notNullValue(Servlet.class));
         _server.stop();
         assertEquals(0,__testServlets.get());