diff --git a/selfdrive/thermald.py b/selfdrive/thermald.py
index ace8ffc56..297b80ac6 100755
--- a/selfdrive/thermald.py
+++ b/selfdrive/thermald.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from common.params import Params
 from common.realtime import sec_since_boot
 from common.numpy_fast import clip
 from common.filter_simple import FirstOrderFilter
+params = Params()
 
 ThermalStatus = log.ThermalData.ThermalStatus
 CURRENT_TAU = 15.   # 15s time constant
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ _TEMP_THRS_L = [42.5, 57.5, 72.5, 10000]
 _FAN_SPEEDS = [0, 16384, 32768, 65535]
 # max fan speed only allowed if battery is hot
 _BAT_TEMP_THERSHOLD = 45.
-if Params.get('DragonNoctuaMode') == "1":
+if params.get('DragonNoctuaMode') == "1":
   _FAN_SPEEDS = [65535, 65535, 65535, 65535]
   _BAT_TEMP_THERSHOLD = 20.
 
@@ -149,8 +150,6 @@ def thermald_thread():
   charging_disabled = False
   os.system('echo "1" > /sys/class/power_supply/battery/charging_enabled')
 
-  params = Params()
-
   while 1:
     health = messaging.recv_sock(health_sock, wait=True)
     location = messaging.recv_sock(location_sock)