diff --git a/lib/priority.c b/lib/priority.c

index 9feec47fe2..40511710fd 100644

--- a/lib/priority.c

+++ b/lib/priority.c

@@ -2001,13 +2001,14 @@ char *_gnutls_resolve_priorities(const char* priorities)

 		additional++;

 	}

-	/* Always try to refresh the cached data, to allow it to be

-	 * updated without restarting all applications.

-	 */

-	ret = _gnutls_update_system_priorities(false /* defer_system_wide */);

-	if (ret < 0) {

-		_gnutls_debug_log("failed to update system priorities: %s\n",

-				  gnutls_strerror(ret));

+	/* If priority string is not constructed yet, construct and finalize */

+	if (!system_wide_config.priority_string) {

+		ret = _gnutls_update_system_priorities(false

+		                                       /* defer_system_wide */);

+		if (ret < 0) {

+			_gnutls_debug_log("failed to update system priorities: "

+			                  " %s\n", gnutls_strerror(ret));

+		}

 	}

 	do {