diff --git a/cmd/serv.go b/cmd/serv.go
index a30e02e7a264f..bee9d5407b4f6 100644
--- a/cmd/serv.go
+++ b/cmd/serv.go
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ func checkLFSVersion() {
 func setup(logPath string) {
 	log.DelLogger("console")
 	setting.NewContext()
+	setting.NewServices() // cannot access session settings otherwise
 	checkLFSVersion()
 	log.NewGitLogger(filepath.Join(setting.LogRootPath, logPath))
 }