diff --git a/evdev/uinput.py b/evdev/uinput.py
index ee28aa9..eafdd4f 100644
--- a/evdev/uinput.py
+++ b/evdev/uinput.py
@@ -121,21 +121,37 @@ def __init__(self,
         if not events:
             events = {ecodes.EV_KEY: ecodes.keys.keys()}
 
-        # The min, max, fuzz and flat values for the absolute axis for
-        # a given code.
-        absinfo = []
-
         self._verify()
 
         #: Write-only, non-blocking file descriptor to the uinput device node.
         self.fd = _uinput.open(devnode)
 
+        # Prepare the list of events for passing to _uinput.enable and _uinput.setup.
+        absinfo, prepared_events = self._prepare_events(events)
+
         # Set phys name
         _uinput.set_phys(self.fd, phys)
 
+        for etype, code in prepared_events:
+            _uinput.enable(self.fd, etype, code)
+
         _uinput.setup(self.fd, name, vendor, product, version, bustype, absinfo)
 
-        # Set device capabilities.
+        # Create the uinput device.
+        _uinput.create(self.fd)
+
+        self.dll = ctypes.CDLL(_uinput.__file__)
+        self.dll._uinput_begin_upload.restype = ctypes.c_int
+        self.dll._uinput_end_upload.restype = ctypes.c_int
+
+        #: An :class:`InputDevice <evdev.device.InputDevice>` instance
+        #: for the fake input device. ``None`` if the device cannot be
+        #: opened for reading and writing.
+        self.device = self._find_device()
+
+    def _prepare_events(self, events):
+        '''Prepare events for passing to _uinput.enable and _uinput.setup'''
+        absinfo, prepared_events = [], []
         for etype, codes in events.items():
             for code in codes:
                 # Handle max, min, fuzz, flat.
@@ -148,21 +164,8 @@ def __init__(self,
                     f.extend([0] * (6 - len(code[1])))
                     absinfo.append(f)
                     code = code[0]
-
-                # TODO: remove a lot of unnecessary packing/unpacking
-                _uinput.enable(self.fd, etype, code)
-
-        # Create the uinput device.
-        _uinput.create(self.fd)
-
-        self.dll = ctypes.CDLL(_uinput.__file__)
-        self.dll._uinput_begin_upload.restype = ctypes.c_int
-        self.dll._uinput_end_upload.restype = ctypes.c_int
-
-        #: An :class:`InputDevice <evdev.device.InputDevice>` instance
-        #: for the fake input device. ``None`` if the device cannot be
-        #: opened for reading and writing.
-        self.device = self._find_device()
+                prepared_events.append((etype, code))
+        return absinfo, prepared_events
 
     def __enter__(self):
         return self
@@ -219,29 +222,25 @@ def begin_upload(self, effect_id):
         upload.effect_id = effect_id
 
         if self.dll._uinput_begin_upload(self.fd, ctypes.byref(upload)):
-            raise UInputError('Failed to begin uinput upload: ' +
-                              os.strerror())
+            raise UInputError('Failed to begin uinput upload: ' + os.strerror())
 
         return upload
 
     def end_upload(self, upload):
         if self.dll._uinput_end_upload(self.fd, ctypes.byref(upload)):
-            raise UInputError('Failed to end uinput upload: ' +
-                              os.strerror())
+            raise UInputError('Failed to end uinput upload: ' + os.strerror())
 
     def begin_erase(self, effect_id):
         erase = ff.UInputErase()
         erase.effect_id = effect_id
 
         if self.dll._uinput_begin_erase(self.fd, ctypes.byref(erase)):
-            raise UInputError('Failed to begin uinput erase: ' +
-                              os.strerror())
+            raise UInputError('Failed to begin uinput erase: ' + os.strerror())
         return erase
 
     def end_erase(self, erase):
         if self.dll._uinput_end_erase(self.fd, ctypes.byref(erase)):
-            raise UInputError('Failed to end uinput erase: ' +
-                              os.strerror())
+            raise UInputError('Failed to end uinput erase: ' + os.strerror())
 
     def _verify(self):
         '''