diff --git a/src/perl/perl-core.c b/src/perl/perl-core.c
index 1814ef36..5c418928 100644
--- a/src/perl/perl-core.c
+++ b/src/perl/perl-core.c
@@ -112,16 +112,18 @@ static void xs_init(pTHX)
 void perl_scripts_init(void)
 {
 	char *args[] = {"", "-e", "0"};
+	int argc = 3;
 	char *code, *use_code;
 
 	perl_scripts = NULL;
         perl_sources_start();
 	perl_signals_start();
 
+	PERL_SYS_INIT3(&argc, &args, &environ);
 	my_perl = perl_alloc();
 	perl_construct(my_perl);
 
-	perl_parse(my_perl, xs_init, 3, args, NULL);
+	perl_parse(my_perl, xs_init, &argc, args, NULL);
 #if PERL_STATIC_LIBS == 1
 	perl_eval_pv("Irssi::Core::boot_Irssi_Core();", TRUE);
 #endif
@@ -165,6 +167,7 @@ void perl_scripts_deinit(void)
 	PL_perl_destruct_level = 1;
 	perl_destruct(my_perl);
 	perl_free(my_perl);
+	PERL_SYS_TERM();
 	my_perl = NULL;
 }