diff --git a/lib/raven/integrations/rails.rb b/lib/raven/integrations/rails.rb
index e0f01297a..c9a28bb5f 100644
--- a/lib/raven/integrations/rails.rb
+++ b/lib/raven/integrations/rails.rb
@@ -24,15 +24,13 @@ class Rails < ::Rails::Railtie
       end
     end
 
-    config.before_initialize do
+    config.after_initialize do
       Raven.configure do |config|
         config.logger ||= ::Rails.logger
         config.project_root ||= ::Rails.root
-        config.release = config.detect_release # if project_root has changed, need to re-check
+        config.release ||= config.detect_release # if project_root has changed, need to re-check
       end
-    end
 
-    config.after_initialize do
       if Raven.configuration.rails_report_rescued_exceptions
         require 'raven/integrations/rails/overrides/debug_exceptions_catcher'
         if defined?(::ActionDispatch::DebugExceptions)