diff --git a/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/core/MockHandler.java b/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/core/MockHandler.java
index 1fa9debab..d1baa472c 100644
--- a/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/core/MockHandler.java
+++ b/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/core/MockHandler.java
@@ -93,9 +93,9 @@ public MockHandler(Feature feature, Map<String, Object> args) {
         runtime.engine.setVariable(ACCEPT_CONTAINS, (Function<String, Boolean>) this::acceptContains);
         runtime.engine.setVariable(HEADER_CONTAINS, (BiFunction<String, String, Boolean>) this::headerContains);
         runtime.engine.setVariable(BODY_PATH, (Function<String, Object>) this::bodyPath);
+        runtime.engine.init();
         if (feature.isBackgroundPresent()) {
             ScenarioEngine.set(runtime.engine);
-            runtime.engine.init();
             for (Step step : feature.getBackground().getSteps()) {
                 Result result = StepRuntime.execute(step, runtime.actions);
                 if (result.isFailed()) {