diff --git a/selfdrive/selfdrived/selfdrived.py b/selfdrive/selfdrived/selfdrived.py
index a270ea4317..0d780f0ad9 100755
--- a/selfdrive/selfdrived/selfdrived.py
+++ b/selfdrive/selfdrived/selfdrived.py
@@ -478,7 +478,6 @@ class SelfdriveD:
   def params_thread(self, evt):
     while not evt.is_set():
       self.is_metric = self.params.get_bool("IsMetric")
-      self.experimental_mode = self.params.get_bool("ExperimentalMode") and self.CP.openpilotLongitudinalControl
       self.personality = self.read_personality_param()
 
       if not self.CP_initialized:
@@ -486,6 +485,8 @@ class SelfdriveD:
         if CP is not None:
           self.initialize_car_params(messaging.log_from_bytes(CP, car.CarParams))
           cloudlog.info("selfdrived got CarParams")
+      else:
+        self.experimental_mode = self.params.get_bool("ExperimentalMode") and self.CP.openpilotLongitudinalControl
 
       time.sleep(0.1)