diff --git a/src/main.go b/src/main.go
index 4ad92f2..8844c45 100644
--- a/src/main.go
+++ b/src/main.go
@@ -328,6 +328,10 @@ func Main(versionInfo string) {
 		logc.Fatalln(ctx, err)
 	}
 
+	if domainCache, err = CreateDomainCache(ctx); err != nil {
+		logc.Fatalln(ctx, err)
+	}
+
 	// The server has its own logic for creating the backend.
 	if cliOperations > 0 {
 		if backend, err = CreateBackend(ctx, &config.Storage); err != nil {
@@ -654,10 +658,6 @@ func Main(versionInfo string) {
 		}
 		backend = NewObservedBackend(backend)
 
-		if domainCache, err = CreateDomainCache(ctx); err != nil {
-			logc.Fatalln(ctx, err)
-		}
-
 		middleware := chainHTTPMiddleware(
 			panicHandler,
 			remoteAddrMiddleware,