diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm b/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm
index 27cd86edd4..ed468f8b18 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 // Subsystems shutdown in the reverse of the order they initialize in
 // The numbers just define the ordering, they are meaningless otherwise.
 
+#define INIT_ORDER_GARBAGE 19
 #define INIT_ORDER_DBCORE 18
 #define INIT_ORDER_BLACKBOX 17
 #define INIT_ORDER_SERVER_MAINT 16
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm
index e83d05a28d..130186c928 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(garbage)
 	wait = 2 SECONDS
 	flags = SS_POST_FIRE_TIMING|SS_BACKGROUND|SS_NO_INIT
 	runlevels = RUNLEVELS_DEFAULT | RUNLEVEL_LOBBY
+	init_order = INIT_ORDER_GARBAGE
 
 	var/list/collection_timeout = list(0, 2 MINUTES, 10 SECONDS)	// deciseconds to wait before moving something up in the queue to the next level