diff --git a/net/keepalived/files/keepalived.init b/net/keepalived/files/keepalived.init
index cf425e872..a90bf6d0b 100644
--- a/net/keepalived/files/keepalived.init
+++ b/net/keepalived/files/keepalived.init
@@ -95,12 +95,9 @@ print_notify() {
 	done
 }
 
-global_defs() {
+globals() {
 	local linkbeat_use_polling notification_email
 
-	config_get alt_config_file "$1" alt_config_file
-	[ -z "$alt_config_file" ] || return 0
-
 	config_get_bool linkbeat_use_polling "$1" linkbeat_use_polling 0
 	[ "$linkbeat_use_polling" -gt 0 ] && printf 'linkbeat_use_polling\n\n' >> "$KEEPALIVED_CONF"
 
@@ -494,10 +491,7 @@ process_config() {
 
 	[ -f /etc/config/keepalived ] || return 0
 	config_load 'keepalived'
-
-	config_section_open "global_defs"
-	config_foreach_wrapper global_defs
-	config_section_close
+	config_get alt_config_file globals alt_config_file
 
 	# If "alt_config_file" specified, use that instead
 	[ -n "$alt_config_file" ] && [ -f "$alt_config_file" ] && {
@@ -507,6 +501,10 @@ process_config() {
 		return 0
 	}
 
+	config_section_open "global_defs"
+	config_foreach_wrapper globals
+	config_section_close
+
 	config_section_open "static_ipaddress"
 	config_foreach_wrapper static_ipaddress
 	config_section_close