diff --git a/src/std/rec/eventRecord.c b/src/std/rec/eventRecord.c
index 5c4a65743..38a4ad62f 100644
--- a/src/std/rec/eventRecord.c
+++ b/src/std/rec/eventRecord.c
@@ -102,10 +102,11 @@ static long init_record(struct dbCommon *pcommon, int pass)
     recGblInitConstantLink(&prec->siml, DBF_USHORT, &prec->simm);
     recGblInitConstantLink(&prec->siol, DBF_STRING, &prec->sval);
 
-    prec->epvt = eventNameToHandle(prec->val);
-
     if( (pdset=(struct eventdset *)(prec->dset)) && (pdset->init_record) ) 
 		status=(*pdset->init_record)(prec);
+
+    prec->epvt = eventNameToHandle(prec->val);
+
     return(status);
 }