diff --git a/source/platform/macos/osxbits.h b/source/platform/macos/osxbits.h
index 8a35e14df..639e48869 100644
--- a/source/platform/macos/osxbits.h
+++ b/source/platform/macos/osxbits.h
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 #define osxbits_h_
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
+void osx_preopen(void);
+void osx_postopen(void);
+
 int osx_msgbox(const char *name, const char *msg);
 int osx_ynbox(const char *name, const char *msg);
 
diff --git a/source/platform/macos/osxbits.mm b/source/platform/macos/osxbits.mm
index 613d6b554..16f04ec01 100644
--- a/source/platform/macos/osxbits.mm
+++ b/source/platform/macos/osxbits.mm
@@ -23,6 +23,20 @@
 # define MAC_OS_VERSION_10_3 1030
 #endif
 
+id nsapp;
+
+void osx_preopen(void)
+{
+    // fix for "ld: absolute address to symbol _NSApp in a different linkage unit not supported"
+    // (OS X 10.6) when building for PPC
+    nsapp = [NSApplication sharedApplication];
+}
+
+void osx_postopen(void)
+{
+    [nsapp finishLaunching];
+}
+
 int osx_msgbox(const char *name, const char *msg)
 {
 	NSString *mmsg = [[NSString alloc] initWithUTF8String:msg];
diff --git a/source/platform/macos/startosx.game.mm b/source/platform/macos/startosx.game.mm
index 731a4634f..b88b589e8 100644
--- a/source/platform/macos/startosx.game.mm
+++ b/source/platform/macos/startosx.game.mm
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "compat.h"
 #include "baselayer.h"
 #include "grpscan.h"
+#include "osxbits.h"
 
 #import "GrpFile.game.h"
 #import "GameListSource.game.h"
@@ -105,8 +106,6 @@ static NSPopUpButton * makeComboBox(void)
     return comboBox;
 }
 
-static id nsapp;
-
 /* setAppleMenu disappeared from the headers in 10.4 */
 @interface NSApplication(NSAppleMenu)
 - (void)setAppleMenu:(NSMenu *)menu;
@@ -599,10 +598,6 @@ static StartupWindow *startwin = nil;
 
 int startwin_open(void)
 {
-    // fix for "ld: absolute address to symbol _NSApp in a different linkage unit not supported"
-    // (OS X 10.6) when building for PPC
-    nsapp = [NSApplication sharedApplication];
-
     if (startwin != nil) return 1;
 
     startwin = [[StartupWindow alloc] init];
@@ -610,8 +605,6 @@ int startwin_open(void)
 
     [startwin setupMessagesMode];
 
-    [nsapp finishLaunching];
-
     [startwin center];
     [startwin makeKeyAndOrderFront:nil];