diff --git a/vlib/v/builder/builder.v b/vlib/v/builder/builder.v
index 1c7445cfb4..1d73dbf712 100644
--- a/vlib/v/builder/builder.v
+++ b/vlib/v/builder/builder.v
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ pub mut:
 	parsed_files        []ast.File
 	cached_msvc         MsvcResult
 	table               &table.Table
-	timers              &util.Timers
+	timers              &util.Timers = util.new_timers(false)
 }
 
 pub fn new_builder(pref &pref.Preferences) Builder {
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
index ffbe8cd58d..ca111bb3cb 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ mut:
 	vweb_gen_types                   []table.Type // vweb route checks
 	prevent_sum_type_unwrapping_once bool // needed for assign new values to sum type, stopping unwrapping then
 	loop_label                       string // set when inside a labelled for loop
-	timers                           &util.Timers
+	timers                           &util.Timers = util.new_timers(false)
 }
 
 pub fn new_checker(table &table.Table, pref &pref.Preferences) Checker {
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v b/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v
index 9bd7a9bc2d..9808ff96a4 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ mut:
 	aggregate_type_idx               int
 	returned_var_name                string // to detect that a var doesn't need to be freed since it's being returned
 	branch_parent_pos                int // used in BranchStmt (continue/break) for autofree stop position
-	timers                           &util.Timers
+	timers                           &util.Timers = util.new_timers(false)
 }
 
 const (
@@ -182,12 +182,13 @@ pub fn cgen(files []ast.File, table &table.Table, pref &pref.Preferences) string
 		module_built: module_built
 		timers: util.new_timers(timers_should_print)
 	}
+	g.timers.start('cgen init')
 	for mod in g.table.modules {
 		g.inits[mod] = strings.new_builder(100)
 		g.cleanups[mod] = strings.new_builder(100)
 	}
-	g.timers.start('cgen common')
 	g.init()
+	g.timers.show('cgen init')
 	//
 	mut tests_inited := false
 	mut autofree_used := false
@@ -220,6 +221,7 @@ pub fn cgen(files []ast.File, table &table.Table, pref &pref.Preferences) string
 		g.stmts(file.stmts)
 		g.timers.show('cgen_file $file.path')
 	}
+	g.timers.start('cgen common')
 	if autofree_used {
 		g.autofree = true // so that void _vcleanup is generated
 	}
diff --git a/vlib/v/util/timers.v b/vlib/v/util/timers.v
index f637b799e8..3b56d58332 100644
--- a/vlib/v/util/timers.v
+++ b/vlib/v/util/timers.v
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ pub fn (mut t Timers) measure(name string) i64 {
 
 pub fn (mut t Timers) message(name string) string {
 	ms := f64(t.measure(name)) / 1000.0
-	value := bold('${ms:.3f}')
-	formatted_message := '$name: $value ms'
+	value := bold('${ms:-8.3f}')
+	formatted_message := '$value ms $name'
 	return formatted_message
 }