diff --git a/veilid-server/src/settings.rs b/veilid-server/src/settings.rs
index d28b7b6e..b82b6c89 100644
--- a/veilid-server/src/settings.rs
+++ b/veilid-server/src/settings.rs
@@ -738,12 +738,11 @@ impl Settings {
     }
 
     pub fn verify(&self) -> EyreResult<()> {
-        let inner = self.inner.read();
-
         cfg_if! {
             if #[cfg(windows)] {
                 // no ipc setup for windows
             } else {
+                let inner = self.inner.read();
                 if inner.client_api.ipc_enabled
                     && !Self::get_or_create_private_directory(&inner.client_api.ipc_directory, true)
                 {