diff --git a/application/History.php b/application/History.php
index c06067d..f93b035 100644
--- a/application/History.php
+++ b/application/History.php
@@ -70,6 +70,15 @@ class History
         if ($retentionTime !== null) {
             $this->retentionTime = $retentionTime;
         }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Initialize: read history file.
+     *
+     * Allow lazy loading (don't read the file if it isn't necessary).
+     */
+    protected function initialize()
+    {
         $this->check();
         $this->read();
     }
@@ -120,6 +129,10 @@ class History
      */
     protected function addEvent($status, $id = null)
     {
+        if ($this->history === null) {
+            $this->initialize();
+        }
+
         $item = [
             'event' => $status,
             'datetime' => (new DateTime())->format(DateTime::ATOM),
@@ -178,6 +191,10 @@ class History
      */
     public function getHistory()
     {
+        if ($this->history === null) {
+            $this->initialize();
+        }
+
         return $this->history;
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/HistoryTest.php b/tests/HistoryTest.php
index 7932224..9152584 100644
--- a/tests/HistoryTest.php
+++ b/tests/HistoryTest.php
@@ -21,9 +21,19 @@ class HistoryTest extends PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
     /**
      * Test that the history file is created if it doesn't exist.
      */
-    public function testConstructFileCreated()
+    public function testConstructLazyLoading()
     {
         new History(self::$historyFilePath);
+        $this->assertFileNotExists(self::$historyFilePath);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test that the history file is created if it doesn't exist.
+     */
+    public function testAddEventCreateFile()
+    {
+        $history = new History(self::$historyFilePath);
+        $history->updateSettings();
         $this->assertFileExists(self::$historyFilePath);
     }
 
@@ -37,7 +47,8 @@ class HistoryTest extends PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
     {
         touch(self::$historyFilePath);
         chmod(self::$historyFilePath, 0440);
-        new History(self::$historyFilePath);
+        $history = new History(self::$historyFilePath);
+        $history->updateSettings();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -49,8 +60,9 @@ class HistoryTest extends PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
     public function testConstructNotParsable()
     {
         file_put_contents(self::$historyFilePath, 'not parsable');
+        $history = new History(self::$historyFilePath);
         // gzinflate generates a warning
-        @new History(self::$historyFilePath);
+        @$history->updateSettings();
     }
 
     /**