preHook initial problem?

I have problem with preHook not working the first time the ajax request is called.
The showLoadText shows text in the current object (a listbox is in this case)
while the server is taking care of my request.
Do I have to set some initial stuff with dwr.engine.setPreeHook(...)
and dwr.engine.setPostHook(...)?

I have this in my jsp-page:
AjaxMethods.findByCountryId(countryId, {
          callback:function(data) { afterAjax(data)},
                preHook:showLoadText(obj, loadText),
                postHook:hideLoadText(obj),
                errorHandler:function(msg){ listBoxErrorHandler(obj)}
                });
        }

/Andreas