diff --git a/scripts/startdaemons.sh b/scripts/startdaemons.sh
index 4e87694fb8..7609abec47 100755
--- a/scripts/startdaemons.sh
+++ b/scripts/startdaemons.sh
@@ -20,9 +20,6 @@
 # This program tries to start the daemons for Laconica.
 # Note that the 'maildaemon' needs to run as a mail filter.
 
-DIR=`dirname $0`
-DAEMONS=`php $DIR/getvaliddaemons.php`
-
 ARGS=
 
 if [ $# -gt 0 ]; then
@@ -33,6 +30,9 @@ if [ $# -gt 1 ]; then
     ARGS="$ARGS -p$2"
 fi
 
+DIR=`dirname $0`
+DAEMONS=`php $DIR/getvaliddaemons.php $ARGS`
+
 for f in $DAEMONS; do
 
          echo -n "Starting $f...";