diff --git a/plugins/inputs/chrony/chrony.go b/plugins/inputs/chrony/chrony.go
index 6173357cf..3fe18e89c 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/chrony/chrony.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/chrony/chrony.go
@@ -33,11 +33,16 @@ func (*Chrony) SampleConfig() string {
   `
 }
 
-func (c *Chrony) Gather(acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
-	if len(c.path) == 0 {
+func (c *Chrony) Init() error {
+	var err error
+	c.path, err = exec.LookPath("chronyc")
+	if err != nil {
 		return errors.New("chronyc not found: verify that chrony is installed and that chronyc is in your PATH")
 	}
+	return nil
+}
 
+func (c *Chrony) Gather(acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 	flags := []string{}
 	if !c.DNSLookup {
 		flags = append(flags, "-n")
@@ -120,12 +125,7 @@ func processChronycOutput(out string) (map[string]interface{}, map[string]string
 }
 
 func init() {
-	c := Chrony{}
-	path, _ := exec.LookPath("chronyc")
-	if len(path) > 0 {
-		c.path = path
-	}
 	inputs.Add("chrony", func() telegraf.Input {
-		return &c
+		return &Chrony{}
 	})
 }