diff --git a/src/rcfile.c b/src/rcfile.c
index 87f9ff78..5e4af037 100644
--- a/src/rcfile.c
+++ b/src/rcfile.c
@@ -1220,7 +1220,6 @@ void parse_rcfile(FILE *rcstream, bool syntax_only)
     fclose(rcstream);
     lineno = 0;
 
-    check_vitals_mapped();
     return;
 }
 
@@ -1285,6 +1284,8 @@ void do_rcfile(void)
 	    parse_rcfile(rcstream, FALSE);
     }
 
+    check_vitals_mapped();
+
     free(nanorc);
     nanorc = NULL;