diff --git a/bin/hbase-daemon.sh b/bin/hbase-daemon.sh
index 6023a7428f8..caa74d8d7bc 100755
--- a/bin/hbase-daemon.sh
+++ b/bin/hbase-daemon.sh
@@ -172,6 +172,8 @@ case $startStop in
 
 (start)
     check_before_start
+    hbase_rotate_log $logout
+    hbase_rotate_log $loggc
     echo starting $command, logging to $logout
     nohup $thiscmd --config "${HBASE_CONF_DIR}" internal_start $command $args < /dev/null > ${logout} 2>&1  &
     sleep 1; head "${logout}"
@@ -179,12 +181,12 @@ case $startStop in
 
 (autorestart)
     check_before_start
+    hbase_rotate_log $logout
+    hbase_rotate_log $loggc
     nohup $thiscmd --config "${HBASE_CONF_DIR}" internal_autorestart $command $args < /dev/null > ${logout} 2>&1  &
   ;;
 
 (internal_start)
-    hbase_rotate_log $logout
-    hbase_rotate_log $loggc
     # Add to the command log file vital stats on our environment.
     echo "`date` Starting $command on `hostname`" >> $loglog
     echo "`ulimit -a`" >> $loglog 2>&1