diff --git a/src/chainparamsbase.cpp b/src/chainparamsbase.cpp
index 0c75b69f4..a66b2da9e 100644
--- a/src/chainparamsbase.cpp
+++ b/src/chainparamsbase.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ static CBaseChainParams* pCurrentBaseParams = 0;
 
 const CBaseChainParams& BaseParams()
 {
+    if ( pCurrentBaseParams == 0 )
+        pCurrentBaseParams = &mainParams;
     assert(pCurrentBaseParams);
     return *pCurrentBaseParams;
 }