diff --git a/scst/src/scst_main.c b/scst/src/scst_main.c
index 7ae3c7c44..113d75e80 100644
--- a/scst/src/scst_main.c
+++ b/scst/src/scst_main.c
@@ -2335,10 +2335,6 @@ static int __init init_scst(void)
 	res = scst_proc_init_module();
 	if (res != 0)
 		goto out_thread_free;
-#else
-	res = scst_pr_check_pr_path();
-	if (res != 0)
-		goto out_thread_free;
 #endif
 
 	PRINT_INFO("SCST version %s loaded successfully (max mem for "
diff --git a/scst/src/scst_pres.c b/scst/src/scst_pres.c
index 7fa513d87..de67e3db3 100644
--- a/scst/src/scst_pres.c
+++ b/scst/src/scst_pres.c
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ write_error_close:
 	goto out_set_fs;
 }
 
-int scst_pr_check_pr_path(void)
+static int scst_pr_check_pr_path(void)
 {
 	int res;
 	struct nameidata nd;
@@ -1180,9 +1180,12 @@ int scst_pr_init_dev(struct scst_device *dev)
 			dev->virt_name);
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_SCST_PROC
-	res = scst_pr_load_device_file(dev);
-	if (res == -ENOENT)
-		res = 0;
+	res = scst_pr_check_pr_path();
+	if (res == 0) {
+		res = scst_pr_load_device_file(dev);
+		if (res == -ENOENT)
+			res = 0;
+	}
 #endif
 
 	if (res != 0)
diff --git a/scst/src/scst_pres.h b/scst/src/scst_pres.h
index ae9e28f33..534a7f929 100644
--- a/scst/src/scst_pres.h
+++ b/scst/src/scst_pres.h
@@ -60,10 +60,6 @@ static inline bool scst_pr_type_valid(uint8_t type)
 	}
 }
 
-#ifndef CONFIG_SCST_PROC
-int scst_pr_check_pr_path(void);
-#endif
-
 static inline bool scst_pr_read_lock(struct scst_device *dev)
 {
 	bool unlock = false;