diff --git a/MAVProxy/modules/mavproxy_paramedit/param_editor.py b/MAVProxy/modules/mavproxy_paramedit/param_editor.py
index c7add59454..fda925baa1 100644
--- a/MAVProxy/modules/mavproxy_paramedit/param_editor.py
+++ b/MAVProxy/modules/mavproxy_paramedit/param_editor.py
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ def __init__(self, mpstate):
 
         self.mpstate = mpstate
         self.mpstate.param_editor = self
+        self.needs_unloading = False
 
         self.child = multiproc.Process(
                         target=self.child_task,
@@ -115,7 +116,6 @@ def __init__(self, mpstate):
         self.mavlink_message_queue_handler = threading.Thread(
             target=self.mavlink_message_queue_handler)
         self.mavlink_message_queue_handler.start()
-        self.needs_unloading = False
 
     def mavlink_message_queue_handler(self):
         while not self.time_to_quit: