diff --git a/libraries/joomla/session/handler/joomla.php b/libraries/joomla/session/handler/joomla.php
index db669395e67e6..4cee9458d4d1e 100644
--- a/libraries/joomla/session/handler/joomla.php
+++ b/libraries/joomla/session/handler/joomla.php
@@ -42,18 +42,6 @@ class JSessionHandlerJoomla extends JSessionHandlerNative
 	 */
 	public function __construct($options = array())
 	{
-		if (!headers_sent())
-		{
-			// Disable transparent sid support
-			ini_set('session.use_trans_sid', '0');
-
-			// Only allow the session ID to come from cookies and nothing else.
-			if ((int) ini_get('session.use_cookies') !== 1)
-			{
-				ini_set('session.use_only_cookies', 1);
-			}
-		}
-
 		// Set options
 		$this->setOptions($options);
 		$this->setCookieParams();
@@ -85,6 +73,19 @@ public function start()
 			}
 		}
 
+		// Only change ini if there is no active session.
+		if (!headers_sent() && session_id() == '')
+		{
+			// Disable transparent sid support
+			ini_set('session.use_trans_sid', '0');
+
+			// Only allow the session ID to come from cookies and nothing else.
+			if ((int) ini_get('session.use_cookies') !== 1)
+			{
+				ini_set('session.use_only_cookies', 1);
+			}
+		}
+
 		return parent::start();
 	}
 
@@ -124,7 +125,8 @@ public function clear()
 	 */
 	protected function setCookieParams()
 	{
-		if (headers_sent())
+		// We can't change cookie params if there is a valid session or headers have already been sent.
+		if (headers_sent() || session_id() != '')
 		{
 			return;
 		}