This paper addresses the widely accepted but still little elaborated observation that democratic erosion evolves in a sequential manner. We argue that the violation of academic freedom takes place after the incumbent erosion agents changed the democratic rules and secured grip on power. The analysis bases on a focused comparison of two cases of democratic erosion in the European Union – Hungary (2010–) and Poland (2015–2023) – tracing the evolution of measures curtailing academic freedom. The findings confirm that the attack against academic freedom is implemented with a time lag. Although the illiberal governments in Hungary and Poland sought from the outset to increase their influence on academia and to shape the public debate, tangible restrictions occurred only after political institutions had been reshaped in a way that would ensure their stay in power. Moreover, our longitudinal perspective reveals that, over time, measures are not only increasing in number, but also in scope and severity.