diff --git a/src/hd-rum-translator/hd-rum-translator.cpp b/src/hd-rum-translator/hd-rum-translator.cpp
index fba4bf787..98ff8c494 100644
--- a/src/hd-rum-translator/hd-rum-translator.cpp
+++ b/src/hd-rum-translator/hd-rum-translator.cpp
@@ -613,9 +613,7 @@ static int parse_fmt(int argc, char **argv, struct cmdline_parameters *parsed)
         } else if(strcmp(argv[start_index], "--verbose") == 0) {
             parsed->verbose = true;
         } else if(strcmp(argv[start_index], "--param") == 0 && start_index < argc - 1) {
-            if (!parse_params(argv[++start_index])) {
-                return -1;
-            }
+            // already handled in common_preinit()
         } else {
             LOG(LOG_LEVEL_FATAL) << MOD_NAME << "Unknown global parameter: " << argv[start_index] << "\n\n";
             usage(argv[0]);
diff --git a/src/host.cpp b/src/host.cpp
index a75a0a402..caf6f1af1 100644
--- a/src/host.cpp
+++ b/src/host.cpp
@@ -124,6 +124,8 @@ struct init_data {
         list <void *> opened_libs;
 };
 
+static bool parse_params(char *optarg);
+
 void common_cleanup(struct init_data *init)
 {
         if (init) {
@@ -150,7 +152,7 @@ ADD_TO_PARAM("stdout-buf",
 ADD_TO_PARAM("stderr-buf",
          "* stderr-buf={no|line|full}\n"
          "  Buffering for stderr\n");
-bool set_output_buffering() {
+static bool set_output_buffering() {
         const unordered_map<const char *, pair<FILE *, int>> outs = { // pair<output, default mode>
                 { "stdout-buf", pair{stdout, _IOLBF} },
                 { "stderr-buf", pair{stderr, _IONBF} }
@@ -264,11 +266,18 @@ bool parse_audio_capture_format(const char *optarg)
         return true;
 }
 
-static bool parse_set_logging(int argc, char *argv[])
+/**
+ * Sets things that must be set before anything else (logging and params)
+ *
+ * (params because used by set
+ */
+static bool parse_opts_set_logging(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
         char *log_opt = nullptr;
         static struct option getopt_options[] = {
-                {"verbose", optional_argument, nullptr, 'V'}, { nullptr, 0, nullptr, 0 }
+                {"param", no_argument, nullptr, OPT_PARAM}, // no_argument -- sic (!), see below
+                {"verbose", optional_argument, nullptr, 'V'},
+                { nullptr, 0, nullptr, 0 }
         };
         int saved_opterr = opterr;
         opterr = 0; // options are further handled in main.cpp
@@ -289,7 +298,16 @@ static bool parse_set_logging(int argc, char *argv[])
                                         log_level += 1;
                                 }
                                 break;
-                        default:
+                        case OPT_PARAM:
+                                if (i == argc - 1) {
+                                        fprintf(stderr, "Missing argument to \"--param\"!\n");
+                                        return false;
+                                }
+                                if (!parse_params(argv[i + 1])) {
+                                        return false;
+                                }
+                                break;
+                        default: // will be handled in main
                                 break;
                         }
                 }
@@ -313,10 +331,15 @@ struct init_data *common_preinit(int argc, char *argv[])
         uv_argc = argc;
         uv_argv = argv;
 
-        if (!parse_set_logging(argc, argv)) {
+        if (!parse_opts_set_logging(argc, argv)) {
                 return nullptr;
         }
 
+        if (!set_output_buffering()) {
+                LOG(LOG_LEVEL_WARNING) << "Cannot set console output buffering!\n";
+        }
+        std::clog.rdbuf(std::cout.rdbuf()); // use stdout for logs by default
+
 #ifdef HAVE_X
         void *handle = dlopen(X11_LIB_NAME, RTLD_NOW);
 
@@ -664,7 +687,7 @@ bool validate_param(const char *param)
 /**
  * Parses command-line parameters given as "--param <key>=<val>[...".
  */
-bool parse_params(char *optarg)
+static bool parse_params(char *optarg)
 {
         if (optarg != nullptr && strcmp(optarg, "help") == 0) {
                 puts("Params can be one or more (separated by comma) of following:");
diff --git a/src/host.h b/src/host.h
index 3e7de45c4..ef95f611d 100644
--- a/src/host.h
+++ b/src/host.h
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@
 #define EXIT_FAIL_CONTROL_SOCK 9
 #define EXIT_FAIL_NETWORK      10
 #define EXIT_FAIL_AUDIO        11
+#define OPT_PARAM (('O' << 8) | 'P')
 
 #define BUG_MSG "Please report a bug to " PACKAGE_BUGREPORT " if you reach here."
 
@@ -137,9 +138,7 @@ void print_configuration(void);
 
 const char *get_commandline_param(const char *key);
 
-bool set_output_buffering();
 bool parse_audio_capture_format(const char *optarg);
-bool parse_params(char *optarg);
 void register_param(const char *param, const char *doc);
 bool validate_param(const char *param);
 void print_param_doc(void);
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index b8daba659..1377374fc 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -137,7 +137,6 @@ static constexpr const char *DEFAULT_AUDIO_CODEC = "PCM";
 #define OPT_IMPORT (('I' << 8) | 'M')
 #define OPT_LIST_MODULES (('L' << 8) | 'M')
 #define OPT_MCAST_IF (('M' << 8) | 'I')
-#define OPT_PARAM (('O' << 8) | 'P')
 #define OPT_PIX_FMTS (('P' << 8) | 'F')
 #define OPT_PROTOCOL (('P' << 8) | 'R')
 #define OPT_START_PAUSED (('S' << 8) | 'P')
@@ -1066,10 +1065,7 @@ static int parse_options(int argc, char *argv[], struct ug_options *opt) {
                         opt->start_paused = true;
                         break;
                 case OPT_PARAM:
-                        if (!parse_params(optarg)) {
-                                return EXIT_SUCCESS;
-                        }
-                        break;
+                        break; // already handled in common_preinit()
                 case OPT_PIX_FMTS:
                         print_pixel_formats();
                         return EXIT_SUCCESS;
@@ -1159,11 +1155,6 @@ static int adjust_params(struct ug_options *opt) {
                 opt->force_ip_version = 4;
         }
 
-        if (!set_output_buffering()) {
-                LOG(LOG_LEVEL_WARNING) << "Cannot set console output buffering!\n";
-        }
-        std::clog.rdbuf(std::cout.rdbuf()); // use stdout for logs by default
-
         // default values for different RXTX protocols
         if (strcasecmp(opt->video_protocol, "rtsp") == 0 || strcasecmp(opt->video_protocol, "sdp") == 0) {
                 if (opt->requested_compression == nullptr) {