diff --git a/gunicorn/workers/base.py b/gunicorn/workers/base.py
index 78f131ee..12e90ec9 100644
--- a/gunicorn/workers/base.py
+++ b/gunicorn/workers/base.py
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@ class Worker(object):
         self.app = app
         self.timeout = timeout
         self.cfg = cfg
-        if not self.cfg.preload_app:
-            self.app = app.load()
         
         self.nr = 0
         self.alive = True
@@ -93,6 +91,10 @@ class Worker(object):
         util.close_on_exec(self.fd)
         self.init_signals()
         
+        # do we need to load the app
+        if not self.cfg.preload_app:
+            self.app = self.app.load()
+        
         # Enter main run loop
         self.run()