diff --git a/net/keepalived/files/keepalived.init b/net/keepalived/files/keepalived.init
index a90bf6d0b..05c47bb36 100644
--- a/net/keepalived/files/keepalived.init
+++ b/net/keepalived/files/keepalived.init
@@ -96,10 +96,7 @@ print_notify() {
 }
 
 globals() {
-	local linkbeat_use_polling notification_email
-
-	config_get_bool linkbeat_use_polling "$1" linkbeat_use_polling 0
-	[ "$linkbeat_use_polling" -gt 0 ] && printf 'linkbeat_use_polling\n\n' >> "$KEEPALIVED_CONF"
+	local notification_email
 
 	config_get notification_email "$1" notification_email
 	print_list_indent notification_email
@@ -481,7 +478,7 @@ virtual_server() {
 }
 
 process_config() {
-	local alt_config_file
+	local alt_config_file linkbeat_use_polling
 
 	rm -f "$KEEPALIVED_CONF"
 
@@ -501,6 +498,9 @@ process_config() {
 		return 0
 	}
 
+	config_get_bool linkbeat_use_polling globals linkbeat_use_polling 0
+	[ "$linkbeat_use_polling" -gt 0 ] && printf 'linkbeat_use_polling\n\n' >> "$KEEPALIVED_CONF"
+
 	config_section_open "global_defs"
 	config_foreach_wrapper globals
 	config_section_close