diff --git a/gunicorn/workers/base.py b/gunicorn/workers/base.py
index fd259461a4..a2ba218f09 100644
--- a/gunicorn/workers/base.py
+++ b/gunicorn/workers/base.py
@@ -112,8 +112,6 @@ def init_process(self):
 
         self.init_signals()
 
-        self.load_wsgi()
-
         # start the reloader
         if self.cfg.reload and self.cfg.reload != 'off':
             def changed(fname):
@@ -133,6 +131,7 @@ def changed(fname):
             self.reloader = reloader_cls(callback=changed)
             self.reloader.start()
 
+        self.load_wsgi()
         self.cfg.post_worker_init(self)
 
         # Enter main run loop
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ def load_wsgi(self):
         try:
             self.wsgi = self.app.wsgi()
         except SyntaxError as e:
-            if not self.cfg.reload:
+            if self.cfg.reload == 'off':
                 raise
 
             self.log.exception(e)