diff --git a/lib/common.php b/lib/common.php
index a49806b05c..25dbbf341c 100644
--- a/lib/common.php
+++ b/lib/common.php
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ define('AVATAR_STREAM_SIZE', 48);
 define('AVATAR_MINI_SIZE', 24);
 define('MAX_AVATAR_SIZE', 256 * 1024);
 
+define_syslog_variables();
+
 # global configuration object
 
 require_once('PEAR.php');
diff --git a/lib/util.php b/lib/util.php
index 1aa9d2944c..249c467d90 100644
--- a/lib/util.php
+++ b/lib/util.php
@@ -1054,7 +1054,6 @@ function common_ensure_syslog() {
 	static $initialized = false;
 	if (!$initialized) {
 		global $config;
-		define_syslog_variables();
 		openlog($config['syslog']['appname'], 0, LOG_USER);
 		$initialized = true;
 	}