diff --git a/weed/command/filer.go b/weed/command/filer.go
index c18925006..b52b01149 100644
--- a/weed/command/filer.go
+++ b/weed/command/filer.go
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ func (fo *FilerOptions) startFiler() {
 		defaultLevelDbDirectory = *fo.defaultLevelDbDirectory + "/filerldb2"
 	}
 
+	var peers []string
+	if *fo.peers != "" {
+		peers = strings.Split(*fo.peers, ",")
+	}
+
 	fs, nfs_err := weed_server.NewFilerServer(defaultMux, publicVolumeMux, &weed_server.FilerOption{
 		Masters:            strings.Split(*fo.masters, ","),
 		Collection:         *fo.collection,
@@ -116,7 +121,7 @@ func (fo *FilerOptions) startFiler() {
 		Host:               *fo.ip,
 		Port:               uint32(*fo.port),
 		Cipher:             *fo.cipher,
-		Filers:             strings.Split(*fo.peers, ","),
+		Filers:             peers,
 	})
 	if nfs_err != nil {
 		glog.Fatalf("Filer startup error: %v", nfs_err)
diff --git a/weed/server/filer_server.go b/weed/server/filer_server.go
index 30c8a0a7c..c6ab6ef0f 100644
--- a/weed/server/filer_server.go
+++ b/weed/server/filer_server.go
@@ -89,19 +89,9 @@ func NewFilerServer(defaultMux, readonlyMux *http.ServeMux, option *FilerOption)
 	})
 	fs.filer.Cipher = option.Cipher
 
-	// set peers
-	if strings.HasPrefix(fs.filer.GetStore().GetName(), "leveldb") && len(option.Filers) > 0 {
-		glog.Fatal("filers using separate leveldb stores should not configure peers!")
-	}
-	if len(option.Filers) == 0 {
-		option.Filers = append(option.Filers, fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", option.Host, option.Port))
-	}
-	fs.metaAggregator = filer2.NewMetaAggregator(option.Filers, fs.grpcDialOption)
-
 	maybeStartMetrics(fs, option)
 
 	go fs.filer.KeepConnectedToMaster()
-	fs.metaAggregator.StartLoopSubscribe(time.Now().UnixNano())
 
 	v := util.GetViper()
 	if !util.LoadConfiguration("filer", false) {
@@ -111,6 +101,7 @@ func NewFilerServer(defaultMux, readonlyMux *http.ServeMux, option *FilerOption)
 		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			os.MkdirAll(option.DefaultLevelDbDir, 0755)
 		}
+		glog.V(0).Infof("default to create filer store dir in %s", option.DefaultLevelDbDir)
 	}
 	util.LoadConfiguration("notification", false)
 
@@ -130,6 +121,16 @@ func NewFilerServer(defaultMux, readonlyMux *http.ServeMux, option *FilerOption)
 		readonlyMux.HandleFunc("/", fs.readonlyFilerHandler)
 	}
 
+	// set peers
+	if strings.HasPrefix(fs.filer.GetStore().GetName(), "leveldb") && len(option.Filers) > 0 {
+		glog.Fatalf("filers using separate leveldb stores should not configure %d peers %+v", len(option.Filers), option.Filers)
+	}
+	if len(option.Filers) == 0 {
+		option.Filers = append(option.Filers, fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", option.Host, option.Port))
+	}
+	fs.metaAggregator = filer2.NewMetaAggregator(option.Filers, fs.grpcDialOption)
+	fs.metaAggregator.StartLoopSubscribe(time.Now().UnixNano())
+
 	fs.filer.LoadBuckets()
 
 	grace.OnInterrupt(func() {