diff --git a/openstack/python-horizon/centos/files/guni_config.py b/openstack/python-horizon/centos/files/guni_config.py
index 5ec01afb..ec945c3c 100644
--- a/openstack/python-horizon/centos/files/guni_config.py
+++ b/openstack/python-horizon/centos/files/guni_config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """
-Copyright (c) 2022 Wind River Systems, Inc.
+Copyright (c) 2022-2023 Wind River Systems, Inc.
 
 SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import datetime
 import fnmatch
 import os
 import resource
-import subprocess
 
 from django.conf import settings
 
@@ -39,10 +38,6 @@ def worker_abort(worker):
                 pass
 
 
-def when_ready(server):
-    subprocess.check_call(["/usr/bin/horizon-assets-compress"])
-
-
 def post_worker_init(worker):
     worker.nrq = 0
     worker.restart = False
diff --git a/openstack/python-horizon/centos/files/horizon.init b/openstack/python-horizon/centos/files/horizon.init
index 7ea93180..2b8e4fd7 100755
--- a/openstack/python-horizon/centos/files/horizon.init
+++ b/openstack/python-horizon/centos/files/horizon.init
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ start()
     rm -rf ${TMPUPLOADDIR}
     mkdir -p ${TMPUPLOADDIR}
 
+    # extract branding file before server starts
+    /usr/bin/horizon-assets-compress
+
     echo -n "Starting $DESC..."
 
     start-stop-daemon --start --quiet --background --pidfile ${PIDFILE} \