diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
index 568615b53..f558c82f7 100644
--- a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
@@ -64,6 +64,12 @@ class Backtesting(object):
         self.config['dry_run'] = True
         self.strategylist: List[IStrategy] = []
 
+        if "ticker_interval" not in self.config:
+            raise OperationalException("Ticker-interval needs to be set in either configuration "
+                                       "or as cli argument `--ticker-interval 5m`")
+        self.ticker_interval = str(self.config.get('ticker_interval'))
+        self.ticker_interval_mins = timeframe_to_minutes(self.ticker_interval)
+
         self.exchange = ExchangeResolver(self.config['exchange']['name'], self.config).exchange
         self.fee = self.exchange.get_fee()
 
@@ -89,12 +95,6 @@ class Backtesting(object):
         Load strategy into backtesting
         """
         self.strategy = strategy
-        if "ticker_interval" not in self.config:
-            raise OperationalException("Ticker-interval needs to be set in either configuration "
-                                       "or as cli argument `--ticker-interval 5m`")
-
-        self.ticker_interval = self.config.get('ticker_interval')
-        self.ticker_interval_mins = timeframe_to_minutes(self.ticker_interval)
         self.advise_buy = strategy.advise_buy
         self.advise_sell = strategy.advise_sell
         # Set stoploss_on_exchange to false for backtesting,