diff --git a/src/bitcoind.cpp b/src/bitcoind.cpp
--- a/src/bitcoind.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoind.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@
         // only valid after this clause)
         try {
             SelectParams(args.GetChainName());
-            node.chain = interfaces::MakeChain(node, config.GetChainParams());
         } catch (const std::exception &e) {
             return InitError(Untranslated(strprintf("%s\n", e.what())));
         }
@@ -178,7 +177,8 @@
             // If locking the data directory failed, exit immediately
             return false;
         }
-        fRet = AppInitMain(config, rpcServer, httpRPCRequestProcessor, node);
+        fRet = AppInitInterfaces(node) &&
+               AppInitMain(config, rpcServer, httpRPCRequestProcessor, node);
     } catch (const std::exception &e) {
         PrintExceptionContinue(&e, "AppInit()");
     } catch (...) {
diff --git a/src/init.h b/src/init.h
--- a/src/init.h
+++ b/src/init.h
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@
  * AppInitSanityChecks should have been called.
  */
 bool AppInitLockDataDirectory();
+/**
+ * Initialize node and wallet interface pointers. Has no prerequisites or side
+ * effects besides allocating memory.
+ */
+bool AppInitInterfaces(NodeContext &node);
 /**
  * Bitcoin main initialization.
  * @note This should only be done after daemonization.
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -2120,6 +2120,16 @@
     return true;
 }
 
+bool AppInitInterfaces(NodeContext &node) {
+    node.chain = interfaces::MakeChain(node, Params());
+    // Create client interfaces for wallets that are supposed to be loaded
+    // according to -wallet and -disablewallet options. This only constructs
+    // the interfaces, it doesn't load wallet data. Wallets actually get loaded
+    // when load() and start() interface methods are called below.
+    g_wallet_init_interface.Construct(node);
+    return true;
+}
+
 bool AppInitMain(Config &config, RPCServer &rpcServer,
                  HTTPRPCRequestProcessor &httpRPCRequestProcessor,
                  NodeContext &node,
@@ -2237,12 +2247,6 @@
 
     GetMainSignals().RegisterBackgroundSignalScheduler(*node.scheduler);
 
-    // Create client interfaces for wallets that are supposed to be loaded
-    // according to -wallet and -disablewallet options. This only constructs
-    // the interfaces, it doesn't load wallet data. Wallets actually get loaded
-    // when load() and start() interface methods are called below.
-    g_wallet_init_interface.Construct(node);
-
     /**
      * Register RPC commands regardless of -server setting so they will be
      * available in the GUI RPC console even if external calls are disabled.
diff --git a/src/interfaces/node.cpp b/src/interfaces/node.cpp
--- a/src/interfaces/node.cpp
+++ b/src/interfaces/node.cpp
@@ -76,12 +76,12 @@
         bool baseInitialize(Config &config) override {
             return AppInitBasicSetup(gArgs) &&
                    AppInitParameterInteraction(config, gArgs) &&
-                   AppInitSanityChecks() && AppInitLockDataDirectory();
+                   AppInitSanityChecks() && AppInitLockDataDirectory() &&
+                   AppInitInterfaces(*m_context);
         }
         bool appInitMain(Config &config, RPCServer &rpcServer,
                          HTTPRPCRequestProcessor &httpRPCRequestProcessor,
                          interfaces::BlockAndHeaderTipInfo *tip_info) override {
-            m_context->chain = MakeChain(*m_context, config.GetChainParams());
             return AppInitMain(config, rpcServer, httpRPCRequestProcessor,
                                *m_context, tip_info);
         }