diff --git a/rtl/amiga/system.pp b/rtl/amiga/system.pp
index 111b0bc40f..b8d1580d09 100644
--- a/rtl/amiga/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/amiga/system.pp
@@ -381,6 +381,7 @@ begin
 { Setup heap }
   InitHeap;
   SysInitExceptions;
+  initunicodestringmanager;
 { Setup stdin, stdout and stderr }
   SysInitStdIO;
 { Reset IO Error }
@@ -389,9 +390,4 @@ begin
   GenerateArgs;
   InitSystemThreads;
   initvariantmanager;
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
 end.
diff --git a/rtl/atari/system.pas b/rtl/atari/system.pas
index 8cb7b0392f..ff5449731e 100644
--- a/rtl/atari/system.pas
+++ b/rtl/atari/system.pas
@@ -762,6 +762,9 @@ begin
   ExitProc:=Nil;
 { Setup heap }
   InitHeap;
+{$ifdef HASWIDESTRING}
+  InitUnicodeStringManager;
+{$endif HASWIDESTRING}
 { Setup stdin, stdout and stderr }
   OpenStdIO(Input,fmInput,StdInputHandle);
   OpenStdIO(Output,fmOutput,StdOutputHandle);
@@ -776,11 +779,4 @@ begin
 { Setup command line arguments }
   argc:=GetParamCount(args);
   InitVariantManager;
-{$ifdef HASWIDESTRING}
- {$ifdef VER2_2}
-  InitWideStringManager;
- {$else VER2_2}
-  InitUnicodeStringManager;
- {$endif VER2_2}
-{$endif HASWIDESTRING}
 end.
diff --git a/rtl/beos/system.pp b/rtl/beos/system.pp
index 1faf6f685e..7b34acb1e9 100644
--- a/rtl/beos/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/beos/system.pp
@@ -429,6 +429,7 @@ begin
   SysInitExceptions;
 //  WriteLn('after SysInitException');
 
+  initunicodestringmanager;
 { Setup IO }
   SysInitStdIO;
 { Reset IO Error }
@@ -437,11 +438,6 @@ begin
 {$ifdef HASVARIANT}
   initvariantmanager;
 {$endif HASVARIANT}
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
   setupexecname;
   { restore original signal handlers in case this is a library }
   if IsLibrary then
diff --git a/rtl/bsd/system.pp b/rtl/bsd/system.pp
index 945b05c36e..935ca0c6f4 100644
--- a/rtl/bsd/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/bsd/system.pp
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ Begin
   { Setup heap }
   InitHeap;
   SysInitExceptions;
+  initunicodestringmanager;
   { Setup stdin, stdout and stderr }
   SysInitStdIO;
   { Reset IO Error }
@@ -337,11 +338,6 @@ Begin
   { threading }
   InitSystemThreads;
   initvariantmanager;
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
   { restore original signal handlers in case this is a library }
   if IsLibrary then
     RestoreOldSignalHandlers;
diff --git a/rtl/emx/system.pas b/rtl/emx/system.pas
index 2d540699be..0e2f83b081 100644
--- a/rtl/emx/system.pas
+++ b/rtl/emx/system.pas
@@ -573,6 +573,10 @@ begin
     { ... and exceptions }
     SysInitExceptions;
 
+{$ifdef HASWIDESTRING}
+    InitUnicodeStringManager;
+{$endif HASWIDESTRING}
+
     { ... and I/O }
     SysInitStdIO;
 
@@ -583,14 +587,6 @@ begin
 
     InitVariantManager;
 
-{$ifdef HASWIDESTRING}
- {$ifdef VER2_2}
-    InitWideStringManager;
- {$else VER2_2}
-    InitUnicodeStringManager;
- {$endif VER2_2}
-{$endif HASWIDESTRING}
-
     if os_Mode in [osDOS,osDPMI] then
         DosEnvInit;
 
diff --git a/rtl/go32v2/system.pp b/rtl/go32v2/system.pp
index bbe3479fbb..2ae58561d1 100644
--- a/rtl/go32v2/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/go32v2/system.pp
@@ -658,6 +658,7 @@ Begin
 { Setup heap }
   InitHeap;
   SysInitExceptions;
+  initunicodestringmanager;
 { Setup stdin, stdout and stderr }
   SysInitStdIO;
 { Setup environment and arguments }
@@ -682,9 +683,4 @@ Begin
   InstallDefaultHandlers;
 {$endif  EXCEPTIONS_IN_SYSTEM}
   initvariantmanager;
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
 End.
diff --git a/rtl/haiku/system.pp b/rtl/haiku/system.pp
index 438e9821d2..cff0ad7eef 100644
--- a/rtl/haiku/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/haiku/system.pp
@@ -463,6 +463,7 @@ begin
   SysInitExceptions;
 //  WriteLn('after SysInitException');
 
+  initunicodestringmanager;
 { Setup IO }
   SysInitStdIO;
 { Reset IO Error }
@@ -471,11 +472,6 @@ begin
 {$ifdef HASVARIANT}
   initvariantmanager;
 {$endif HASVARIANT}
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
   setupexecname;
   { restore original signal handlers in case this is a library }
   if IsLibrary then
diff --git a/rtl/linux/system.pp b/rtl/linux/system.pp
index fe10478a03..a5650fc8ca 100644
--- a/rtl/linux/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/linux/system.pp
@@ -363,6 +363,7 @@ begin
   { Setup heap }
   InitHeap;
   SysInitExceptions;
+  initunicodestringmanager;
   { Setup stdin, stdout and stderr }
   SysInitStdIO;
   { Arguments }
@@ -372,11 +373,6 @@ begin
   { threading }
   InitSystemThreads;
   initvariantmanager;
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
   { restore original signal handlers in case this is a library }
   if IsLibrary then
     RestoreOldSignalHandlers;
diff --git a/rtl/macos/system.pp b/rtl/macos/system.pp
index 4eff82614c..c225724e44 100644
--- a/rtl/macos/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/macos/system.pp
@@ -548,6 +548,7 @@ begin
 
   InitHeap;
   SysInitExceptions;
+  initunicodestringmanager;
   SysInitStdIO;
 
   { Setup environment and arguments }
@@ -558,11 +559,6 @@ begin
   errno:=0;
   InitSystemThreads;
   initvariantmanager;
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
 
   if StandAlone = 0 then
     begin
diff --git a/rtl/morphos/system.pp b/rtl/morphos/system.pp
index ca50ebbda6..70dcacdd50 100644
--- a/rtl/morphos/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/morphos/system.pp
@@ -415,6 +415,7 @@ begin
 { Setup heap }
   InitHeap;
   SysInitExceptions;
+  initunicodestringmanager;
 { Setup stdin, stdout and stderr }
   SysInitStdIO;
 { Reset IO Error }
@@ -423,9 +424,4 @@ begin
   GenerateArgs;
   InitSystemThreads;
   initvariantmanager;
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
 end.
diff --git a/rtl/nativent/system.pp b/rtl/nativent/system.pp
index 0276e48595..8b5b19c444 100644
--- a/rtl/nativent/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/nativent/system.pp
@@ -425,6 +425,9 @@ begin
 {$endif ndef KMODE and ndef HAS_MEMORYMANAGER}
   SysInitExceptions;
   initvariantmanager;
+  { we do not use winlike widestrings and also the RTL can't be compiled with
+    2.2, so we can savely use the UnicodeString manager only. }
+  initunicodestringmanager;
 {$ifndef KMODE}
   SysInitStdIO;
   { Arguments }
@@ -433,8 +436,5 @@ begin
   InOutRes := 0;
   InitSystemThreads;
   errno := 0;
-  { we do not use winlike widestrings and also the RTL can't be compiled with
-    2.2, so we can savely use the UnicodeString manager only. }
-  initunicodestringmanager;
 end.
 
diff --git a/rtl/netware/system.pp b/rtl/netware/system.pp
index 2a45147f68..d5195e517b 100644
--- a/rtl/netware/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/netware/system.pp
@@ -469,6 +469,7 @@ Begin
   ConsolePrintf (#13'Start system, ThreadID: %x'#13#10,ThreadID);
   {$endif}
 
+  initunicodestringmanager;
   SysInitStdIO;
 
 {Delphi Compatible}
@@ -476,9 +477,4 @@ Begin
   ExitCode  := 0;
   InitSystemThreads;
   initvariantmanager;
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
 End.
diff --git a/rtl/netwlibc/system.pp b/rtl/netwlibc/system.pp
index a42efe99d8..a65f27696e 100644
--- a/rtl/netwlibc/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/netwlibc/system.pp
@@ -544,6 +544,7 @@ Begin
 
   ThreadID := dword(pthread_self);
 
+  initunicodestringmanager;
   SysInitStdIO;
 
 {Delphi Compatible}
@@ -551,9 +552,4 @@ Begin
   ExitCode  := 0;
   InitSystemThreads;
   initvariantmanager;
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
 End.
diff --git a/rtl/os2/system.pas b/rtl/os2/system.pas
index acccedf7b7..0458e6e065 100644
--- a/rtl/os2/system.pas
+++ b/rtl/os2/system.pas
@@ -1179,6 +1179,10 @@ begin
     SysInitExceptions;
     fpc_cpucodeinit;
 
+{$ifdef HASWIDESTRING}
+    InitUnicodeStringManager;
+{$endif HASWIDESTRING}
+
     { ... and I/O }
     SysInitStdIO;
 
@@ -1197,14 +1201,6 @@ begin
     InitSystemThreads;
     InitVariantManager;
 
-{$ifdef HASWIDESTRING}
- {$ifdef VER2_2}
-    InitWideStringManager;
- {$else VER2_2}
-    InitUnicodeStringManager;
- {$endif VER2_2}
-{$endif HASWIDESTRING}
-
 {$IFDEF EXTDUMPGROW}
 {    Int_HeapSize := high (cardinal);}
 {$ENDIF EXTDUMPGROW}
diff --git a/rtl/solaris/system.pp b/rtl/solaris/system.pp
index 453f692ece..6bddd943b1 100644
--- a/rtl/solaris/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/solaris/system.pp
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ Begin
   fpc_cpucodeinit;
 {$endif cpui386}
 
+  initunicodestringmanager;
 
 { Setup stdin, stdout and stderr }
   SysInitStdIO;
@@ -286,11 +287,6 @@ Begin
   SetupCmdLine;
   InitSystemThreads;
   initvariantmanager;
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
   { restore original signal handlers in case this is a library }
   if IsLibrary then
     RestoreOldSignalHandlers;
diff --git a/rtl/watcom/system.pp b/rtl/watcom/system.pp
index 7bda6b8276..d3bbdbdbca 100644
--- a/rtl/watcom/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/watcom/system.pp
@@ -763,6 +763,7 @@ Begin
 { Setup heap }
   InitHeap;
   SysInitExceptions;
+  initunicodestringmanager;
 { Setup stdin, stdout and stderr }
   SysInitStdIO;
 { Setup environment and arguments }
@@ -786,9 +787,4 @@ Begin
   InstallDefaultHandlers;
 {$endif  EXCEPTIONS_IN_SYSTEM}
   initvariantmanager;
-{$ifdef VER2_2}
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$else VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
 End.
diff --git a/rtl/win32/system.pp b/rtl/win32/system.pp
index 983b80af03..8fc9780d4a 100644
--- a/rtl/win32/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/win32/system.pp
@@ -695,6 +695,9 @@ begin
   SysInitExceptions;
   { setup fastmove stuff }
   fpc_cpucodeinit;
+  initwidestringmanager;
+  initunicodestringmanager;
+  InitWin32Widestrings;
   SysInitStdIO;
   { Arguments }
   setup_arguments;
@@ -706,10 +709,5 @@ begin
   { Reset internal error variable }
   errno:=0;
   initvariantmanager;
-  initwidestringmanager;
-{$ifndef VER2_2}
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-{$endif VER2_2}
-  InitWin32Widestrings;
   DispCallByIDProc:=@DoDispCallByIDError;
 end.
diff --git a/rtl/win64/system.pp b/rtl/win64/system.pp
index d47d4c4ddd..1cde1fc5e6 100644
--- a/rtl/win64/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/win64/system.pp
@@ -610,6 +610,9 @@ begin
   SysInitExceptions;
   { setup fastmove stuff }
   fpc_cpucodeinit;
+  initwidestringmanager;
+  initunicodestringmanager;
+  InitWin32Widestrings;
   SysInitStdIO;
   { Arguments }
   setup_arguments;
@@ -621,8 +624,5 @@ begin
   { Reset internal error variable }
   errno:=0;
   initvariantmanager;
-  initwidestringmanager;
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-  InitWin32Widestrings;
   DispCallByIDProc:=@DoDispCallByIDError;
 end.
diff --git a/rtl/wince/system.pp b/rtl/wince/system.pp
index 194ac2adec..70af8bffbe 100644
--- a/rtl/wince/system.pp
+++ b/rtl/wince/system.pp
@@ -1848,6 +1848,8 @@ initialization
   InitHeap;
 {$ENDIF HAS_MEMORYMANAGER}
   SysInitExceptions;
+  initunicodestringmanager;
+  InitWinCEWidestrings;
   if not IsLibrary then
     begin
       SysInitStdIO;
@@ -1860,8 +1862,6 @@ initialization
   { Reset internal error variable }
   errno:=0;
   initvariantmanager;
-  initunicodestringmanager;
-  InitWinCEWidestrings;
   DispCallByIDProc:=@DoDispCallByIDError;
 
 finalization