diff --git a/babeld/files/babeld.init b/babeld/files/babeld.init
index be2f835..a177f68 100755
--- a/babeld/files/babeld.init
+++ b/babeld/files/babeld.init
@@ -177,6 +177,10 @@ babel_configpaths() {
 start_service() {
 	mkdir -p /var/lib
 	mkdir -p /var/etc
+	mkdir -p "$OTHERCONFIGDIR"
+
+	# Start by emptying the generated config file
+	>"$CONFIGFILE"
 
 	# First load the whole config file, without callbacks, so that we are
 	# aware of all "ignore" options in the second pass.  This also allows
@@ -186,14 +190,6 @@ start_service() {
 	# Configure alternative configuration file and directory
 	config_foreach babel_configpaths "general"
 
-	# Start by emptying the generated config file
-	>"$CONFIGFILE"
-	# Import dynamic config files
-	mkdir -p "$OTHERCONFIGDIR"
-	for f in "$OTHERCONFIGDIR"/*.conf; do
-		[ -f "$f" ] && cat "$f" >> "$CONFIGFILE"
-	done
-
 	# Parse general and interface sections thanks to the "config_cb()"
 	# callback.  This allows to loop over all options without having to
 	# know their name in advance.
@@ -201,13 +197,24 @@ start_service() {
 	config_load babeld
 	# Parse filters separately, since we know which options we expect
 	config_foreach babel_filter filter
+
+	# Import dynamic config files
+	for f in "$OTHERCONFIGDIR"/*.conf; do
+		[ -f "$f" ] && cat "$f" >> "$CONFIGFILE"
+	done
+
 	procd_open_instance
 	# Using multiple config files is supported since babeld 1.5.1
 	procd_set_param command /usr/sbin/babeld -I "" -c "$OTHERCONFIGFILE" -c "$CONFIGFILE"
 	procd_set_param stdout 1
 	procd_set_param stderr 1
 	procd_set_param file "$OTHERCONFIGFILE" "$OTHERCONFIGDIR"/*.conf "$CONFIGFILE"
-	procd_set_param respawn
+
+	### Respawn automatically when process dies, after waiting respawn_timeout seconds
+	### If respawn_retry consecutives respawns die before respawn_threshold seconds (i.e. they crash)
+	### it will stop trying and leave it dead.
+	procd_set_param respawn ${respawn_threshold:-60} ${respawn_timeout:-3} ${respawn_retry:-5}
+
 	procd_close_instance
 }