diff --git a/server/activator b/server/activator
index 2cb53486f..ecfde5bda 100644
--- a/server/activator
+++ b/server/activator
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ def print_help():
 
 options = argv[1:]
 
+from entropyConstants import *
+from serverConstants import *
+
 # print version
 if (' '.join(options).find("--version") != -1) or (' '.join(options).find(" -V") != -1):
     print_generic(APPNAME+": "+APPVERSION)
@@ -72,8 +75,6 @@ if len(options) < 1 or ' '.join(options).find("--help") != -1 or ' '.join(option
 
 import entropyTools
 import activatorTools
-from entropyConstants import *
-from serverConstants import *
 
 # preliminary options parsing
 _options = []
diff --git a/server/reagent b/server/reagent
index 5a2437b89..946f56e56 100644
--- a/server/reagent
+++ b/server/reagent
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ def print_help():
 
 options = argv[1:]
 
+from entropyConstants import *
+from serverConstants import *
+
 # print version
 if (' '.join(options).find("--version") != -1) or (' '.join(options).find(" -V") != -1):
     print_generic(APPNAME+": "+APPVERSION)
@@ -78,8 +81,7 @@ if len(options) < 1 or ' '.join(options).find("--help") != -1 or ' '.join(option
 import entropyTools
 import reagentTools
 import databaseTools
-from entropyConstants import *
-from serverConstants import *
+
 
 # preliminary options parsing
 _options = []