diff --git a/include/globals.h b/include/globals.h
index d63e5b7f..eb4f58b4 100644
--- a/include/globals.h
+++ b/include/globals.h
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ extern std::array<uint64_t, 0xff>::iterator it;
 extern std::array<uint64_t, 0xff> beacons;
 
 extern configData_t cfg;                       // current device configuration
+extern char clientId[20];                      // unique clientID
 extern char lmic_event_msg[LMIC_EVENTMSG_LEN]; // display buffer
 extern uint8_t volatile channel;               // wifi channel rotation counter
 extern uint8_t volatile rf_load;               // RF traffic indicator
diff --git a/src/boot.cpp b/src/boot.cpp
index 889476d1..c4679a95 100644
--- a/src/boot.cpp
+++ b/src/boot.cpp
@@ -76,14 +76,6 @@ void IRAM_ATTR watchdog() { xTaskResumeFromISR(RestartHandle); }
 
 void start_boot_menu(void) {
 
-  uint8_t mac[6];
-  char clientId[20];
-
-  // hash 6 byte MAC to 4 byte hash
-  esp_eth_get_mac(mac);
-  const uint32_t hashedmac = myhash((const char *)mac, 6);
-  snprintf(clientId, 20, "paxcounter_%08x", hashedmac);
-
   const char *host = clientId;
   const char *ssid = WIFI_SSID;
   const char *password = WIFI_PASS;
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index fbf7780e..79ebb1c1 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ configData_t cfg; // struct holds current device configuration
 char lmic_event_msg[LMIC_EVENTMSG_LEN]; // display buffer for LMIC event message
 uint8_t batt_level = 0;                 // display value
 uint8_t volatile rf_load = 0;           // RF traffic indicator
+char clientId[20] = {0};                // unique ClientID
 
 hw_timer_t *ppsIRQ = NULL, *displayIRQ = NULL, *matrixDisplayIRQ = NULL;
 
@@ -137,6 +138,14 @@ void setup() {
   // load device configuration from NVRAM and set runmode
   do_after_reset();
 
+  // hash 6 byte device MAC to 4 byte clientID
+  uint8_t mac[6];
+  esp_eth_get_mac(mac);
+  const uint32_t hashedmac = myhash((const char *)mac, 6);
+  snprintf(clientId, 20, "paxcounter_%08x", hashedmac);
+  ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Starting %s v%s (runmode=%d / restarts=%d)", clientId,
+           PROGVERSION, RTC_runmode, RTC_restarts);
+
   // print chip information on startup if in verbose mode after coldstart
 #if (VERBOSE)
 
diff --git a/src/mqttclient.cpp b/src/mqttclient.cpp
index caba854f..dd0770f8 100644
--- a/src/mqttclient.cpp
+++ b/src/mqttclient.cpp
@@ -42,14 +42,8 @@ esp_err_t mqtt_init(void) {
 }
 
 int mqtt_connect(const char *my_host, const uint16_t my_port) {
-  IPAddress mqtt_server_ip;
-  uint8_t mac[6];
-  char clientId[20];
 
-  // hash 6 byte MAC to 4 byte hash
-  esp_eth_get_mac(mac);
-  const uint32_t hashedmac = myhash((const char *)mac, 6);
-  snprintf(clientId, 20, "paxcounter_%08x", hashedmac);
+  IPAddress mqtt_server_ip;
 
   ESP_LOGI(TAG, "MQTT name is %s", MQTT_CLIENTNAME);
 
diff --git a/src/ota.cpp b/src/ota.cpp
index 4c8b7140..792dd4f0 100644
--- a/src/ota.cpp
+++ b/src/ota.cpp
@@ -42,13 +42,6 @@ inline String getHeaderValue(String header, String headerName) {
 
 void start_ota_update() {
 
-  uint8_t mac[6];
-  char clientId[20];
-
-  // hash 6 byte MAC to 4 byte hash
-  esp_eth_get_mac(mac);
-  const uint32_t hashedmac = myhash((const char *)mac, 6);
-  snprintf(clientId, 20, "paxcounter_%08x", hashedmac);
   const char *host = clientId;
 
   switch_LED(LED_ON);
diff --git a/src/reset.cpp b/src/reset.cpp
index 67deadf5..f9ad8dd3 100644
--- a/src/reset.cpp
+++ b/src/reset.cpp
@@ -88,9 +88,6 @@ void do_after_reset(void) {
     RTC_restarts++;
     break;
   }
-
-  ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Starting Software v%s (runmode=%d / restarts=%d)", PROGVERSION,
-           RTC_runmode, RTC_restarts);
 }
 
 void enter_deepsleep(const uint64_t wakeup_sec, gpio_num_t wakeup_gpio) {