diff --git a/include/db/mysqli.inc.php b/include/db/mysqli.inc.php
index 61769534..5dacaa0b 100644
--- a/include/db/mysqli.inc.php
+++ b/include/db/mysqli.inc.php
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ function serendipity_db_reconnect() {
     $use_charset = '';
     if (isset($serendipity['dbCharset']) && !empty($serendipity['dbCharset'])) {
         $use_charset = $serendipity['dbCharset'];
-        @define('SQL_CHARSET_INIT', true);
+        if (!defined('SQL_CHARSET_INIT')) { define('SQL_CHARSET_INIT', true); }
     } elseif (defined('SQL_CHARSET') && $serendipity['dbNames'] && !defined('SQL_CHARSET_INIT')) {
         $use_charset = SQL_CHARSET;
     }