diff --git a/src/newconf.c b/src/newconf.c
index 2d0b63dd..12893dd0 100644
--- a/src/newconf.c
+++ b/src/newconf.c
@@ -1722,9 +1722,6 @@ conf_end_alias(struct TopConf *tc)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (!alias_dict)
-		alias_dict = irc_dictionary_create(strcasecmp);
-
 	irc_dictionary_add(alias_dict, yy_alias->name, yy_alias);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/src/s_conf.c b/src/s_conf.c
index 7acb5734..47d80346 100644
--- a/src/s_conf.c
+++ b/src/s_conf.c
@@ -834,6 +834,9 @@ set_default_conf(void)
 	ConfigFileEntry.throttle_duration = 60;
 
 	ServerInfo.default_max_clients = MAXCONNECTIONS;
+
+	if (!alias_dict)
+		alias_dict = irc_dictionary_create(strcasecmp);
 }
 
 #undef YES