diff --git a/admin/index.php b/admin/index.php
index a6c2b604add..9bd82145143 100644
--- a/admin/index.php
+++ b/admin/index.php
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@
     require_capability('moodle/site:config', $context);
 
 /// check that site is properly customized
+    $site = get_site();
     if (empty($site->shortname)) {
         // probably new installation - lets return to frontpage after this step
         // remove settings that we want uninitialised