diff --git a/widgets/mainwindow.cpp b/widgets/mainwindow.cpp
index b10a25a39..f3f21dca8 100644
--- a/widgets/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/widgets/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -348,6 +348,7 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QDir const& temp_directory, bool multiple,
   m_first_error {true},
   tx_status_label {tr ("Receiving")},
   wsprNet {new WSPRNet {&m_network_manager, this}},
+  m_baseCall {Radio::base_callsign (m_config.my_callsign ())},
   m_appDir {QApplication::applicationDirPath ()},
   m_cqStr {""},
   m_palette {"Linrad"},
@@ -444,8 +445,6 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QDir const& temp_directory, bool multiple,
   ui->decodedTextBrowser->set_configuration (&m_config, true);
   ui->decodedTextBrowser2->set_configuration (&m_config);
 
-  m_baseCall = Radio::base_callsign (m_config.my_callsign ());
-
   m_optimizingProgress.setWindowModality (Qt::WindowModal);
   m_optimizingProgress.setAutoReset (false);
   m_optimizingProgress.setMinimumDuration (15000); // only show after 15s delay