diff --git a/client/birdc.c b/client/birdc.c
index f1aea2fe..53a6b34e 100644
--- a/client/birdc.c
+++ b/client/birdc.c
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ history_init(void)
 void
 input_init(void)
 {
+  using_history();
   if (interactive)
     history_init();
   rl_readline_name = "birdc";