diff --git a/include/decl.h b/include/decl.h
index 7bb2b1aea..61f00fe40 100644
--- a/include/decl.h
+++ b/include/decl.h
@@ -1090,6 +1090,8 @@ struct instance_globals {
        shouldn't carry over from ordinary selling to credit selling */
     boolean auto_credit;
     struct repo repo;
+   long int followmsg; /* last time of follow message */
+
 
     /* sp_lev.c */
     char *lev_message;
diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index 1bcbcef38..b7b46e81e 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ E void NDECL(newgame);
 E void FDECL(welcome, (BOOLEAN_P));
 E time_t NDECL(get_realtime);
 E int FDECL(argcheck, (int, char **, enum earlyarg));
+E void NDECL(early_init);
 
 /* ### apply.c ### */
 
diff --git a/src/allmain.c b/src/allmain.c
index d81ce019d..21242e845 100644
--- a/src/allmain.c
+++ b/src/allmain.c
@@ -19,6 +19,15 @@ STATIC_DCL void FDECL(regen_hp, (int));
 STATIC_DCL void FDECL(interrupt_multi, (const char *));
 STATIC_DCL void FDECL(debug_fields, (const char *));
 
+void
+early_init()
+{
+    decl_globals_init();
+    objects_globals_init();
+    monst_globals_init();
+    sys_early_init();
+}
+
 void
 moveloop(resuming)
 boolean resuming;
diff --git a/src/decl.c b/src/decl.c
index 84e16b280..4eb813ed8 100644
--- a/src/decl.c
+++ b/src/decl.c
@@ -611,6 +611,7 @@ const struct instance_globals g_init = {
     SELL_NORMAL, /* sell_how */
     FALSE, /* auto_credit */
     UNDEFINED_VALUES, /* repo */
+    UNDEFINED_VALUES, /* followmsg */
 
     /* sp_lev.c */
     NULL, /* lev_message */
diff --git a/src/shk.c b/src/shk.c
index 632d3b41c..1dabf32b3 100644
--- a/src/shk.c
+++ b/src/shk.c
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ STATIC_DCL void FDECL(kops_gone, (BOOLEAN_P));
 
 extern const struct shclass shtypes[]; /* defined in shknam.c */
 
-STATIC_VAR NEARDATA long int followmsg; /* last time of follow message */
 STATIC_VAR const char and_its_contents[] = " and its contents";
 STATIC_VAR const char the_contents_of[] = "the contents of ";
 
@@ -3692,7 +3691,7 @@ struct monst *shkp;
                 eshkp->following = 0;
                 return 0;
             }
-            if (g.moves > followmsg + 4) {
+            if (g.moves > g.followmsg + 4) {
                 if (!Deaf && !muteshk(shkp))
                     verbalize("%s, %s!  Didn't you forget to pay?",
                               Hello(shkp), g.plname);
@@ -3700,7 +3699,7 @@ struct monst *shkp;
                     pline("%s holds out %s upturned %s.",
                           Shknam(shkp), noit_mhis(shkp),
                           mbodypart(shkp, HAND));
-                followmsg = g.moves;
+                g.followmsg = g.moves;
                 if (!rn2(9)) {
                     pline("%s doesn't like customers who don't pay.",
                           Shknam(shkp));
diff --git a/src/sys.c b/src/sys.c
index e3a040bca..44ec02560 100644
--- a/src/sys.c
+++ b/src/sys.c
@@ -20,10 +20,6 @@ struct sysopt sysopt;
 void
 sys_early_init()
 {
-    decl_globals_init();
-    objects_globals_init();
-    monst_globals_init();
-
     sysopt.support = (char *) 0;
     sysopt.recover = (char *) 0;
 #ifdef SYSCF
diff --git a/sys/be/bemain.c b/sys/be/bemain.c
index 869f6c302..c1b81dda9 100644
--- a/sys/be/bemain.c
+++ b/sys/be/bemain.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
     char *dir;
     boolean resuming = FALSE; /* assume new game */
 
-    sys_early_init();
+    early_init();
 
     dir = nh_getenv("NETHACKDIR");
     if (!dir)
diff --git a/sys/mac/macmain.c b/sys/mac/macmain.c
index 48be0f487..71bfaeeeb 100644
--- a/sys/mac/macmain.c
+++ b/sys/mac/macmain.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ main(void)
     int argc = 1;
     boolean resuming = FALSE; /* assume new game */
 
-    sys_early_init();
+    early_init();
     windowprocs = mac_procs;
     InitMac();
 
diff --git a/sys/share/pcmain.c b/sys/share/pcmain.c
index c3c05d703..ffe109337 100644
--- a/sys/share/pcmain.c
+++ b/sys/share/pcmain.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ char *argv[];
 {
     boolean resuming;
 
-    sys_early_init();
+    early_init();
     resuming = pcmain(argc, argv);
     moveloop(resuming);
     nethack_exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
diff --git a/sys/unix/unixmain.c b/sys/unix/unixmain.c
index fca896554..6237b46a3 100644
--- a/sys/unix/unixmain.c
+++ b/sys/unix/unixmain.c
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ char *argv[];
     boolean resuming = FALSE; /* assume new game */
     boolean plsel_once = FALSE;
 
-    sys_early_init();
+    early_init();
 
 #if defined(__APPLE__)
     {
diff --git a/sys/vms/vmsmain.c b/sys/vms/vmsmain.c
index ec70e39f6..29e5c8cd3 100644
--- a/sys/vms/vmsmain.c
+++ b/sys/vms/vmsmain.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ char *argv[];
     privon();
 #endif
 
-    sys_early_init();
+    early_init();
 
     atexit(byebye);
     g.hname = argv[0];
diff --git a/sys/wince/winhack.c b/sys/wince/winhack.c
index bca6d5937..264643663 100644
--- a/sys/wince/winhack.c
+++ b/sys/wince/winhack.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPWSTR lpCmdLine,
     char buf[NHSTR_BUFSIZE];
     boolean resuming;
 
-    sys_early_init();
+    early_init();
 
     /* ensure that we don't access violate on a panic() */
     windowprocs.win_raw_print = mswin_raw_print;
diff --git a/sys/winnt/windmain.c b/sys/winnt/windmain.c
index b8fb2aa19..bfc865140 100644
--- a/sys/winnt/windmain.c
+++ b/sys/winnt/windmain.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ char *argv[];
     if (!GUILaunched)
         windowprocs.win_nhgetch = windows_console_custom_nhgetch;
 
-    sys_early_init();
+    early_init();
 #ifdef _MSC_VER
 # ifdef DEBUG
     /* set these appropriately for VS debugging */
diff --git a/win/win32/winhack.c b/win/win32/winhack.c
index 6776b376f..6b08d8b96 100644
--- a/win/win32/winhack.c
+++ b/win/win32/winhack.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine,
     windowprocs.win_wait_synch = mswin_wait_synch;
 
     win10_init();
-    sys_early_init();
+    early_init();
 
     /* init application structure */
     _nethack_app.hApp = hInstance;