diff --git a/zathura/main.c b/zathura/main.c
index 88275c0..18cbbbe 100644
--- a/zathura/main.c
+++ b/zathura/main.c
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@
 #ifdef WITH_SYNCTEX
 #include "synctex.h"
 #endif
-#ifdef WITH_SECCOMP
-#include "seccomp-filters.h"
-#endif
 
 /* Init locale */
 static void
@@ -292,28 +289,6 @@ main(int argc, char* argv[])
     goto free_and_ret;
   }
 
-#ifdef WITH_SECCOMP
-  char* sandbox = NULL;
-  girara_setting_get(zathura->ui.session, "sandbox", &sandbox);
-  if (g_strcmp0(sandbox, "none") == 0) {
-    girara_debug("Sandbox deactivated.");
-  } else if (g_strcmp0(sandbox, "normal") == 0)  {
-    girara_debug("Basic sandbox allowing normal operation.");
-    ret = seccomp_enable_basic_filter();
-  } else if (g_strcmp0(sandbox, "strict") == 0) {
-    girara_debug("Strict sandbox preventing write and network access.");
-    ret = seccomp_enable_strict_filter();
-  } else {
-    girara_error("Invalid sandbox option");
-    ret = -1;
-  }
-  g_free(sandbox);
-
-  if (ret != 0) {
-    goto free_and_ret;
-  }
-#endif
-
   /* open document if passed */
   if (file_idx != 0) {
     if (page_number > 0) {
diff --git a/zathura/zathura.c b/zathura/zathura.c
index 04f442e..99ae327 100644
--- a/zathura/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura/zathura.c
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@
 #include "resources.h"
 #include "synctex.h"
 #include "content-type.h"
+#ifdef WITH_SECCOMP
+#include "seccomp-filters.h"
+#endif
 
 typedef struct zathura_document_info_s {
   zathura_t* zathura;
@@ -418,6 +421,27 @@ zathura_init(zathura_t* zathura)
   config_load_default(zathura);
   config_load_files(zathura);
 
+#ifdef WITH_SECCOMP
+  /* initialize seccomp filters */
+  switch (zathura->global.sandbox) {
+    case ZATHURA_SANDBOX_NONE:
+      girara_debug("Sandbox deactivated.");
+      break;
+    case ZATHURA_SANDBOX_NORMAL:
+      girara_debug("Basic sandbox allowing normal operation.");
+      if (seccomp_enable_basic_filter() != 0) {
+        goto error_free;
+      }
+      break;
+    case ZATHURA_SANDBOX_STRICT:
+      girara_debug("Strict sandbox preventing write and network access.");
+      if (seccomp_enable_strict_filter() != 0) {
+        goto error_free;
+      }
+      break;
+  }
+#endif
+
   /* UI */
   if (!init_ui(zathura)) {
     goto error_free;