diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 4c3bae6948..804b229861 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -937,6 +937,10 @@ int __attribute__((used)) main(void) {
 
     stack_init();
 
+    #if CIRCUITPY_STATUS_BAR
+    supervisor_status_bar_init();
+    #endif
+
     #if CIRCUITPY_BLEIO
     // Early init so that a reset press can cause BLE public advertising.
     supervisor_bluetooth_init();
diff --git a/shared-bindings/supervisor/StatusBar.c b/shared-bindings/supervisor/StatusBar.c
index 3ee9ae9de4..ad6bfb401c 100644
--- a/shared-bindings/supervisor/StatusBar.c
+++ b/shared-bindings/supervisor/StatusBar.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 //|     """Whether status bar information is sent over the console (REPL) serial connection,
 //|     using OSC terminal escape codes that change the terminal's title. Default is ``True``.
 //|     If set to ``False``, status bar will be cleared and then disabled.
-//|     May be set in ``boot.py`` or later.
+//|     May be set in ``boot.py`` or later. Persists across soft restarts.
 //|     """
 //|
 STATIC mp_obj_t supervisor_status_bar_get_console(mp_obj_t self_in) {
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ MP_PROPERTY_GETSET(supervisor_status_bar_console_obj,
 //|     display: bool
 //|     """Whether status bar information is displayed on the top line of the display.
 //|     Default is ``True``. If set to ``False``, status bar will be cleared and then disabled.
-//|     May be set in ``boot.py`` or later. Not available if `terminalio` is not available.
+//|     May be set in ``boot.py`` or later.  Persists across soft restarts.
+//|     Not available if `terminalio` is not available.
 //|     """
 //|
 STATIC mp_obj_t supervisor_status_bar_get_display(mp_obj_t self_in) {
diff --git a/shared-module/supervisor/StatusBar.c b/shared-module/supervisor/StatusBar.c
index cb0882fd44..2b2dda9ecf 100644
--- a/shared-module/supervisor/StatusBar.c
+++ b/shared-module/supervisor/StatusBar.c
@@ -40,8 +40,10 @@ bool shared_module_supervisor_status_bar_get_console(supervisor_status_bar_obj_t
 }
 
 void shared_module_supervisor_status_bar_set_console(supervisor_status_bar_obj_t *self, bool enabled) {
-    // Clear before changing state. If disabling, will remain cleared.
-    supervisor_status_bar_clear();
+    if (self->written) {
+        // Clear before changing state. If disabling, will remain cleared.
+        supervisor_status_bar_clear();
+    }
 
     self->console = enabled;
 
@@ -55,8 +57,10 @@ bool shared_module_supervisor_status_bar_get_display(supervisor_status_bar_obj_t
 
 #if CIRCUITPY_TERMINALIO
 void shared_module_supervisor_status_bar_set_display(supervisor_status_bar_obj_t *self, bool enabled) {
-    terminalio_terminal_clear_status_bar(&supervisor_terminal);
-    // Clear before changing state. If disabling, will remain cleared.
+    if (self->written) {
+        // Clear before changing state. If disabling, will remain cleared.
+        terminalio_terminal_clear_status_bar(&supervisor_terminal);
+    }
 
     self->display = enabled;
 
@@ -70,5 +74,6 @@ bool supervisor_status_bar_get_update_in_progress(supervisor_status_bar_obj_t *s
 }
 
 void supervisor_status_bar_set_update_in_progress(supervisor_status_bar_obj_t *self, bool update_in_progress) {
+    self->written = true;
     self->update_in_progress = update_in_progress;
 }
diff --git a/shared-module/supervisor/StatusBar.h b/shared-module/supervisor/StatusBar.h
index 88bf965864..bc80d7825f 100644
--- a/shared-module/supervisor/StatusBar.h
+++ b/shared-module/supervisor/StatusBar.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ typedef struct {
     bool console;
     bool display;
     bool update_in_progress;
+    bool written;
 } supervisor_status_bar_obj_t;
 
 extern bool supervisor_status_bar_get_update_in_progress(supervisor_status_bar_obj_t *self);
diff --git a/shared-module/supervisor/__init__.c b/shared-module/supervisor/__init__.c
index 7921eec46a..05e23e26e7 100644
--- a/shared-module/supervisor/__init__.c
+++ b/shared-module/supervisor/__init__.c
@@ -34,6 +34,4 @@ supervisor_status_bar_obj_t shared_module_supervisor_status_bar_obj = {
     .base = {
         .type = &supervisor_status_bar_type,
     },
-    .console = true,
-    .display = true,
 };
diff --git a/supervisor/shared/display.c b/supervisor/shared/display.c
index f573a92271..8ed2f5c17e 100644
--- a/supervisor/shared/display.c
+++ b/supervisor/shared/display.c
@@ -144,10 +144,8 @@ void supervisor_start_terminal(uint16_t width_px, uint16_t height_px) {
         scroll_area->full_change = true;
 
         common_hal_terminalio_terminal_construct(&supervisor_terminal, scroll_area, &supervisor_terminal_font, status_bar);
-        #if CIRCUITPY_STATUS_BAR
-        // Update the status bar since we just cleared the terminal.
-        supervisor_status_bar_update();
-        #endif
+
+        // Do not update status bar until after boot.py has run, in case it is disabled.
     }
     #endif
 
diff --git a/supervisor/shared/status_bar.c b/supervisor/shared/status_bar.c
index 2adc065e04..0607696d3e 100644
--- a/supervisor/shared/status_bar.c
+++ b/supervisor/shared/status_bar.c
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@ static background_callback_t status_bar_background_cb;
 static bool _forced_dirty = false;
 static bool _suspended = false;
 
+void supervisor_status_bar_init(void) {
+    shared_module_supervisor_status_bar_obj.console = true;
+    shared_module_supervisor_status_bar_obj.display = true;
+    shared_module_supervisor_status_bar_obj.update_in_progress = false;
+    shared_module_supervisor_status_bar_obj.written = false;
+}
+
 // Clear if possible, but give up if we can't do it now.
 void supervisor_status_bar_clear(void) {
     if (!_suspended) {
diff --git a/supervisor/shared/status_bar.h b/supervisor/shared/status_bar.h
index db2c442276..062012b545 100644
--- a/supervisor/shared/status_bar.h
+++ b/supervisor/shared/status_bar.h
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
+void supervisor_status_bar_init(void);
+
 void supervisor_status_bar_start(void);
 void supervisor_status_bar_suspend(void);
 void supervisor_status_bar_resume(void);