diff --git a/esphome/lab-ble-proxy.yaml b/esphome/lab-ble-proxy.yaml
index 048b1a0..144029b 100644
--- a/esphome/lab-ble-proxy.yaml
+++ b/esphome/lab-ble-proxy.yaml
@@ -27,10 +27,16 @@ esphome:
   includes:
     - lab-ble-proxy.h
   on_boot:
-    priority: 850
-    then:
-      - lambda: |-
-          owon_b35t::core2_axp192_init(id(core2_i2c));
+    - priority: 850
+      then:
+        - lambda: |-
+            owon_b35t::core2_axp192_init(id(core2_i2c));
+    # Start the normal dimming/off cycle after a cold boot as well. The
+    # light component is initialized by this priority, while BLE callbacks
+    # and touch events can still restart the script through wake_backlight.
+    - priority: 600
+      then:
+        - script.execute: backlight_idle
   project:
     name: "custom.lab-ble-proxy-m5stack-core2"
     version: "1.0"