diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 5c996f0d..4bd8a6b4 100755
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ if (ENV != 'development' && ENV != 'production'){
 
 var _ = require('underscore')
     , Step       = require('step')
-    , cartoData  = require('./lib/cartodb/carto_data')
 	, CartodbWindshaft = require('./lib/cartodb/cartodb_windshaft');
 
 // set environment specific variables
@@ -26,6 +25,10 @@ global.settings     = require(__dirname + '/config/settings');
 global.environment  = require(__dirname + '/config/environments/' + ENV);
 _.extend(global.settings, global.environment);
 
+// Include cart_data.js only _after_ the "global" variable is set
+// See https://github.com/Vizzuality/Windshaft-cartodb/issues/28
+var cartoData = require('./lib/cartodb/carto_data');
+
 var Windshaft = require('windshaft');
 var serverOptions = require('./lib/cartodb/server_options');