diff --git a/ext/standard/basic_functions.c b/ext/standard/basic_functions.c
index be89403c19d..8b0068129a6 100644
--- a/ext/standard/basic_functions.c
+++ b/ext/standard/basic_functions.c
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ static void basic_globals_ctor(php_basic_globals *basic_globals_p) /* {{{ */
 
 	BG(page_uid) = -1;
 	BG(page_gid) = -1;
+
+	BG(syslog_device) = NULL;
 }
 /* }}} */
 
diff --git a/ext/standard/syslog.c b/ext/standard/syslog.c
index d352ca7a46d..c5d73eb008e 100644
--- a/ext/standard/syslog.c
+++ b/ext/standard/syslog.c
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@
 /* {{{ PHP_MINIT_FUNCTION */
 PHP_MINIT_FUNCTION(syslog)
 {
-	BG(syslog_device)=NULL;
-
 	return SUCCESS;
 }
 /* }}} */