diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index 3b5fe525c..cd030ef48 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ extern void exercise(int, boolean);
 extern void exerchk(void);
 extern void init_attr(int);
 extern void redist_attr(void);
+extern void vary_init_attr(void);
 extern void adjabil(int, int);
 extern int newhp(void);
 extern int minuhpmax(int);
diff --git a/src/attrib.c b/src/attrib.c
index e2d386434..f4343a7fd 100644
--- a/src/attrib.c
+++ b/src/attrib.c
@@ -743,6 +743,22 @@ redist_attr(void)
     /* (void) encumber_msg(); -- caller needs to do this */
 }
 
+/* apply minor variation to attributes */
+void
+vary_init_attr(void)
+{
+    int i;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < A_MAX; i++)
+        if (!rn2(20)) {
+            register int xd = rn2(7) - 2; /* biased variation */
+
+            (void) adjattrib(i, xd, TRUE);
+            if (ABASE(i) < AMAX(i))
+                AMAX(i) = ABASE(i);
+        }
+}
+
 static
 void
 postadjabil(long *ability)
diff --git a/src/u_init.c b/src/u_init.c
index 3266bfa8c..8872b6993 100644
--- a/src/u_init.c
+++ b/src/u_init.c
@@ -933,18 +933,8 @@ u_init(void)
 
     find_ac();     /* get initial ac value */
     init_attr(75); /* init attribute values */
+    vary_init_attr(); /* minor variation to attrs */
     max_rank_sz(); /* set max str size for class ranks */
-    /*
-     *  Do we really need this?
-     */
-    for (i = 0; i < A_MAX; i++)
-        if (!rn2(20)) {
-            register int xd = rn2(7) - 2; /* biased variation */
-
-            (void) adjattrib(i, xd, TRUE);
-            if (ABASE(i) < AMAX(i))
-                AMAX(i) = ABASE(i);
-        }
 
     /* make sure you can carry all you have - especially for Tourists */
     while (inv_weight() > 0) {