diff --git a/sys/kern/init_main.c b/sys/kern/init_main.c
--- a/sys/kern/init_main.c
+++ b/sys/kern/init_main.c
@@ -138,7 +138,6 @@
  * - 1, 'compiled in but verbose by default' (default)
  */
 int	verbose_sysinit = VERBOSE_SYSINIT;
-TUNABLE_INT("debug.verbose_sysinit", &verbose_sysinit);
 #endif
 
 #ifdef INVARIANTS
@@ -272,6 +271,7 @@
 
 	last = SI_SUB_DUMMY;
 #if defined(VERBOSE_SYSINIT)
+	TUNABLE_INT_FETCH("debug.verbose_sysinit", &verbose_sysinit);
 	verbose = 0;
 #if !defined(DDB)
 	printf("VERBOSE_SYSINIT: DDB not enabled, symbol lookups disabled.\n");