diff --git a/arch/x86/tools/mcreboot-smp-x86.sh.in b/arch/x86/tools/mcreboot-smp-x86.sh.in
index 13ed14f8..f9b99f85 100644
--- a/arch/x86/tools/mcreboot-smp-x86.sh.in
+++ b/arch/x86/tools/mcreboot-smp-x86.sh.in
@@ -260,16 +260,6 @@ if [ "${irqbalance_used}" == "yes" ]; then
 	fi;
 fi
 
-# Start mcklogd. Note that McKernel blocks when kmsg buffer is full
-# with '-k 1' until mcklogd unblocks it so starting mcklogd must preceed
-# booting McKernel
-if [ ${LOGMODE} -ne 0 ]; then
-	# Stop mcklogd which has survived McKernel shutdown because
-	# mcstop+release.sh is not used
-	pkill mcklogd
-	SBINDIR=${SBINDIR} ${SBINDIR}/mcklogd -i ${INTERVAL} -f ${facility}
-fi
-
 # Load IHK if not loaded
 if ! grep -E 'ihk\s' /proc/modules &>/dev/null; then
 	if ! insmod ${KMODDIR}/ihk.ko 2>/dev/null; then
@@ -521,3 +511,13 @@ if [ "${irqbalance_used}" == "yes" ]; then
 #    echo cpus=$cpus mask=$smp_affinity_mask banirq=$banirq
 fi
 
+# Start mcklogd. Note that McKernel blocks when kmsg buffer is full
+# with '-k 1' until mcklogd unblocks it so starting mcklogd must preceed
+# booting McKernel
+if [ ${LOGMODE} -ne 0 ]; then
+	# Stop mcklogd which has survived McKernel shutdown because
+	# mcstop+release.sh is not used
+	pkill mcklogd
+	SBINDIR=${SBINDIR} ${SBINDIR}/mcklogd -i ${INTERVAL} -f ${facility}
+fi
+
diff --git a/arch/x86/tools/mcstop+release-smp-x86.sh.in b/arch/x86/tools/mcstop+release-smp-x86.sh.in
index af360a82..d1d1db40 100644
--- a/arch/x86/tools/mcstop+release-smp-x86.sh.in
+++ b/arch/x86/tools/mcstop+release-smp-x86.sh.in
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ cpus=""
 # No SMP module? Exit.
 if ! grep ihk_smp_x86 /proc/modules &>/dev/null; then exit 0; fi
 
+# Stop mcklogd
+pkill mcklogd
+
 # Destroy all LWK instances
 if ls /dev/mcos* 1>/dev/null 2>&1; then
 	for i in /dev/mcos*; do
@@ -94,9 +97,6 @@ if grep -E 'ihk\s' /proc/modules &>/dev/null; then
 	fi
 fi
 
-# Stop mcklogd
-pkill mcklogd
-
 # Start irqbalance with the original settings
 if [ "`systemctl status irqbalance_mck.service 2> /dev/null |grep -E 'Active: active'`" != "" ]; then
 	if ! systemctl stop irqbalance_mck.service 2>/dev/null; then