diff --git a/nse_main.cc b/nse_main.cc
index 79bb1f92a..3c64b4e14 100644
--- a/nse_main.cc
+++ b/nse_main.cc
@@ -591,6 +591,13 @@ void open_nse (void)
 {
   if (L_NSE == NULL)
   {
+    /*
+     Set the random seed value on behalf of scripts.  Since Lua uses the
+     C rand and srand functions, which have a static seed for the entire
+     program, we don't want scripts doing this themselves.
+     */
+    srand(get_random_uint());
+
     if ((L_NSE = luaL_newstate()) == NULL)
       fatal("%s: failed to open a Lua state!", SCRIPT_ENGINE);
     lua_atpanic(L_NSE, panic);
@@ -615,13 +622,6 @@ void script_scan (std::vector<Target *> &targets, stype scantype)
   assert(L_NSE != NULL);
   lua_settop(L_NSE, 0); /* clear the stack */
 
-  /*
-   Set the random seed value on behalf of scripts.  Since Lua uses the C rand
-   and srand functions, which have a static seed for the entire program, we
-   don't want scripts doing this themselves.
-   */
-  srand(get_random_uint());
-
 #if 0
   /* Lua 5.2 */
   lua_pushcfunction(L_NSE, run_main);