diff --git a/internal/command/init.go b/internal/command/init.go
index ba0d6db934..2e6d13d9da 100644
--- a/internal/command/init.go
+++ b/internal/command/init.go
@@ -244,14 +244,28 @@ func (c *InitCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 		return 1
 	}
 
-	// If the core version is OK, show any underlying config errors uncovered when initializing
-	// the backend.
-	diags = diags.Append(backDiags)
-	if backDiags.HasErrors() {
-		c.showDiagnostics(diags)
-		return 1
+	// If we pass the core version check, we want to show any errors from initializing the backend next,
+	// which will include syntax errors from loading the configuration. However, there's a special case
+	// where we are unable to load the backend from configuration or state _and_ the configuration has
+	// errors. In that case, we want to show a slightly friendlier error message for newcomers.
+	showBackendDiags := back != nil || rootModEarly.Backend != nil || rootModEarly.CloudConfig != nil
+	if showBackendDiags {
+		diags = diags.Append(backDiags)
+		if backDiags.HasErrors() {
+			c.showDiagnostics(diags)
+			return 1
+		}
+	} else {
+		diags = diags.Append(earlyConfDiags)
+		if earlyConfDiags.HasErrors() {
+			c.Ui.Error(strings.TrimSpace(errInitConfigError))
+			c.showDiagnostics(diags)
+			return 1
+		}
 	}
 
+	// If everything is ok with the core version check and backend initialization,
+	// show other errors from loading the full configuration tree.
 	diags = diags.Append(confDiags)
 	if confDiags.HasErrors() {
 		c.Ui.Error(strings.TrimSpace(errInitConfigError))