diff --git a/lib/workers/index.js b/lib/workers/index.js
index 4ca1996d0..6e9f57e88 100644
--- a/lib/workers/index.js
+++ b/lib/workers/index.js
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ Workers.initialize = function (Env, config, _cb) {
             return;
         }
 
+        const txid = guid();
         var cb = Util.once(Util.mkAsync(Util.both(_cb, function (err /*, value */) {
             if (err !== 'TIMEOUT') { return; }
             // in the event of a timeout the user will receive an error
@@ -124,7 +125,6 @@ Workers.initialize = function (Env, config, _cb) {
             return void cb('ESERVERERR');
         }
 
-        const txid = guid();
         msg.txid = txid;
         msg.pid = PID;