diff --git a/drivers/display/display_dummy.c b/drivers/display/display_dummy.c
index dd49573f790..630ed57a045 100644
--- a/drivers/display/display_dummy.c
+++ b/drivers/display/display_dummy.c
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ static const struct display_driver_api dummy_display_api = {
 	DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(n, &dummy_display_init, NULL,		\
 			      &dd_data_##n,				\
 			      &dd_config_##n,				\
-			      APPLICATION,				\
+			      POST_KERNEL,				\
 			      CONFIG_DISPLAY_INIT_PRIORITY,		\
 			      &dummy_display_api);			\
 
diff --git a/drivers/display/display_sdl.c b/drivers/display/display_sdl.c
index f7ada84fbea..2a457249ede 100644
--- a/drivers/display/display_sdl.c
+++ b/drivers/display/display_sdl.c
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ static const struct display_driver_api sdl_display_api = {
 	DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(n, &sdl_display_init, NULL,		\
 			      &sdl_data_##n,				\
 			      &sdl_config_##n,				\
-			      APPLICATION,				\
+			      POST_KERNEL,				\
 			      CONFIG_DISPLAY_INIT_PRIORITY,		\
 			      &sdl_display_api);			\
 									\