diff --git a/programs/services/tests/service.c b/programs/services/tests/service.c
index e228069b0cd..85b8e861ca5 100644
--- a/programs/services/tests/service.c
+++ b/programs/services/tests/service.c
@@ -442,7 +442,6 @@ static void test_runner(void (*p_run_test)(void))
     if(pipe_handle == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE)
         return;
 
-    InitializeCriticalSection(&event_cs);
     event_handle = CreateEventA(NULL, FALSE, FALSE, NULL);
     ok(event_handle != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE, "CreateEvent failed: %u\n", GetLastError());
     if(event_handle == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE)
@@ -465,6 +464,8 @@ START_TEST(service)
     char **argv;
     int argc;
 
+    InitializeCriticalSection(&event_cs);
+
     pRegisterServiceCtrlHandlerExA = (void*)GetProcAddress(GetModuleHandleA("advapi32.dll"), "RegisterServiceCtrlHandlerExA");
     if(!pRegisterServiceCtrlHandlerExA) {
         win_skip("RegisterServiceCtrlHandlerExA not available, skipping tests\n");