diff --git a/daemon.c b/daemon.c
index 41a60af624ae661e9bd96a935ecdc855625b669e..dd0177f48d3192d3006394584e335ae1beba5db4 100644
--- a/daemon.c
+++ b/daemon.c
@@ -1149,6 +1149,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		usage(daemon_usage);
 	}
 
+	if (log_syslog) {
+		openlog("git-daemon", 0, LOG_DAEMON);
+		set_die_routine(daemon_die);
+	}
+
 	if (inetd_mode && (group_name || user_name))
 		die("--user and --group are incompatible with --inetd");
 
@@ -1176,11 +1181,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (log_syslog) {
-		openlog("git-daemon", 0, LOG_DAEMON);
-		set_die_routine(daemon_die);
-	}
-
 	if (strict_paths && (!ok_paths || !*ok_paths))
 		die("option --strict-paths requires a whitelist");