diff --git a/src/sbbs3/main.cpp b/src/sbbs3/main.cpp
index 3dae0bfb86bf139e1d9f1cd808abf1582f960ed6..acc76eb22ab20cf6d662e806e8e641f8b2db275e 100644
--- a/src/sbbs3/main.cpp
+++ b/src/sbbs3/main.cpp
@@ -4426,7 +4426,6 @@ void DLLCALL bbs_thread(void* arg)
 
 	uptime=0;
 	served=0;
-	protected_uint32_init(&node_threads_running,0);
 
 	startup->recycle_now=FALSE;
 	startup->shutdown_now=FALSE;
@@ -4436,6 +4435,8 @@ void DLLCALL bbs_thread(void* arg)
 
 	do {
 
+	protected_uint32_init(&node_threads_running,0);
+
 	thread_up(FALSE /* setuid */);
 
 	status("Initializing");