diff --git a/ext/session/session.c b/ext/session/session.c
index 2c9b5cc5a6c..7fc84f4dbec 100644
--- a/ext/session/session.c
+++ b/ext/session/session.c
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ static PHP_INI_MH(OnUpdateStringCopy)
 
 	p = (char **) (base+(size_t) mh_arg1);
 
-	if (*p && entry->modified) {
+	if (*p && stage != PHP_INI_STAGE_STARTUP) {
 		STR_FREE(*p);
 	}