diff --git a/server.c b/server.c
index a74aaa3e..4149aa14 100644
--- a/server.c
+++ b/server.c
@@ -128,9 +128,9 @@ server_start(int lockfd, char *lockfile)
 		fatal("daemon failed");
 
 	/* event_init() was called in our parent, need to reinit. */
+	clear_signals(0);
 	if (event_reinit(ev_base) != 0)
 		fatal("event_reinit failed");
-	clear_signals(0);
 
 	logfile("server");
 	log_debug("server started, pid %ld", (long) getpid());