diff --git a/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs b/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs
index d16d02e..fd998f3 100644
--- a/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs
+++ b/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs
@@ -244,6 +244,13 @@ namespace Oxide.Plugins
 
             _bootId = ResolveBootId();
             _wipeId = ResolveWipeId();
+
+            // Before the link thread, not in `Loaded`: both frameworks call `Init` first, and a
+            // thread started here with `_config` still null dials the 7799 fallback. With one
+            // server per host that is its own sidecar by coincidence; with two it is the OTHER
+            // server's, whose sidecar then files this server's history under that one's id
+            // (found by the phase 18 walk, D154).
+            LoadConfigValues();
             _running = true;
 
             // Expired link codes are dropped on a timer, not on lookup: an unconfirmed code is
@@ -496,7 +503,6 @@ namespace Oxide.Plugins
 
         private void Loaded()
         {
-            LoadConfigValues();
             Puts($"protocol {ProtocolVersion}, serverId '{_config.ServerId}', sidecar {_config.Host}:{_config.Port}");
 
             // Here rather than at `OnServerInitialized`: the link thread starts in `Init`, so a