diff --git a/server/src/unifyfs_server.c b/server/src/unifyfs_server.c
index f2192fa28..9519c5a8f 100644
--- a/server/src/unifyfs_server.c
+++ b/server/src/unifyfs_server.c
@@ -396,8 +396,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
 
     LOGDBG("initializing rpc service");
-    ABT_init(argc, argv);
-    ABT_mutex_create(&app_configs_abt_sync);
     rc = configurator_bool_val(server_cfg.margo_lazy_connect,
                                &margo_lazy_connect);
     rc = configurator_bool_val(server_cfg.margo_tcp,
@@ -408,6 +406,11 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
         exit(1);
     }
 
+    /* We wait to call any ABT functions until after margo_init.
+     * Margo configures ABT in a particular way, so we defer to
+     * Margo to call ABT_init. */
+    ABT_mutex_create(&app_configs_abt_sync);
+
     ABT_mutex_lock(app_configs_abt_sync);
     failed_clients = arraylist_create(0);
     ABT_mutex_unlock(app_configs_abt_sync);