diff --git a/lib/iscsi/iscsi_subsystem.c b/lib/iscsi/iscsi_subsystem.c
index 9390b8f3d..65864f0ca 100644
--- a/lib/iscsi/iscsi_subsystem.c
+++ b/lib/iscsi/iscsi_subsystem.c
@@ -794,6 +794,12 @@ spdk_iscsi_app_read_parameters(void)
 	 */
 	g_spdk_iscsi.MaxConnections = g_spdk_iscsi.MaxSessions;
 
+	rc = pthread_mutex_init(&g_spdk_iscsi.mutex, NULL);
+	if (rc != 0) {
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("mutex_init() failed\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	spdk_iscsi_log_globals();
 
 	/* portal groups */
@@ -810,12 +816,6 @@ spdk_iscsi_app_read_parameters(void)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	rc = pthread_mutex_init(&g_spdk_iscsi.mutex, NULL);
-	if (rc != 0) {
-		SPDK_ERRLOG("mutex_init() failed\n");
-		return -1;
-	}
-
 	return 0;
 }