diff --git a/modules/ssl/mod_ssl.c b/modules/ssl/mod_ssl.c
index 9aa52a99dd..6a8062a9f6 100644
--- a/modules/ssl/mod_ssl.c
+++ b/modules/ssl/mod_ssl.c
@@ -212,6 +212,9 @@ static int ssl_hook_pre_config(apr_pool_t *pconf,
                                apr_pool_t *plog,
                                apr_pool_t *ptemp)
 {
+    /* Preregister the malloc callbacks so cmds can make library calls */
+    CRYPTO_malloc_init();
+
     /* Register us to handle mod_log_config %c/%x variables */
     ssl_var_log_config_register(pconf);
 #if 0 /* XXX */
diff --git a/modules/ssl/ssl_engine_init.c b/modules/ssl/ssl_engine_init.c
index 402ce0cbf4..45dec92180 100644
--- a/modules/ssl/ssl_engine_init.c
+++ b/modules/ssl/ssl_engine_init.c
@@ -114,7 +114,6 @@ static void ssl_init_SSLLibrary(server_rec *s)
     ap_log_error(APLOG_MARK, APLOG_INFO, 0, s,
                  "Init: Initializing %s library", SSL_LIBRARY_NAME);
 
-    CRYPTO_malloc_init();
     SSL_load_error_strings();
     SSL_library_init();
 }