diff --git a/ArduCopter/Log.cpp b/ArduCopter/Log.cpp
index ffc131cf3b..c63fc576db 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/Log.cpp
+++ b/ArduCopter/Log.cpp
@@ -912,8 +912,6 @@ void Copter::start_logging()
     if (g.log_bitmask != 0 && !in_log_download) {
         if (!ap.logging_started) {
             ap.logging_started = true;
-            DataFlash.set_mission(&mission);
-            DataFlash.setVehicle_Startup_Log_Writer(FUNCTOR_BIND(&copter, &Copter::Log_Write_Vehicle_Startup_Messages, void));
             DataFlash.StartNewLog();
         } else if (!DataFlash.logging_started()) {
             // dataflash may have stopped logging - when we get_log_data,
diff --git a/ArduCopter/system.cpp b/ArduCopter/system.cpp
index 295d67518d..c87ac07771 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/system.cpp
+++ b/ArduCopter/system.cpp
@@ -288,6 +288,10 @@ void Copter::init_ardupilot()
     // initialise mission library
     mission.init();
 
+    // initialise DataFlash library
+    DataFlash.set_mission(&mission);
+    DataFlash.setVehicle_Startup_Log_Writer(FUNCTOR_BIND(&copter, &Copter::Log_Write_Vehicle_Startup_Messages, void));
+
     // initialise the flight mode and aux switch
     // ---------------------------
     reset_control_switch();