diff --git a/scripts/mysqld_safe.sh b/scripts/mysqld_safe.sh
index 5d77863c9b4074b7ae60937278313c1e995f5a8f..0f415ccd5f0092e05c679064695ff749a50f40c8 100644
--- a/scripts/mysqld_safe.sh
+++ b/scripts/mysqld_safe.sh
@@ -115,7 +115,6 @@ else
   ledir=@libexecdir@
 fi
 
-safe_mysql_unix_port=${mysql_unix_port:-${MYSQL_UNIX_PORT:-@MYSQL_UNIX_ADDR@}}
 user=@MYSQLD_USER@
 niceness=0
 
@@ -155,6 +154,7 @@ then
 fi
 parse_arguments `$print_defaults --loose-verbose $defaults mysqld_safe safe_mysqld`
 parse_arguments PICK-ARGS-FROM-ARGV "$@"
+safe_mysql_unix_port=${mysql_unix_port:-${MYSQL_UNIX_PORT:-@MYSQL_UNIX_ADDR@}}
 
 if test ! -x $ledir/$MYSQLD
 then