diff --git a/src/shim/shim.c b/src/shim/shim.c
index ade2a13..3d9884f 100644
--- a/src/shim/shim.c
+++ b/src/shim/shim.c
@@ -281,14 +281,16 @@ bool shim_bootstrap()
         operation_prefix = getenv("SNAP");
 #endif
 
+        /* We might have additional variables we need to export and we
+         * might also end up changing XDG_CONFIG_HOME - ensure we actually
+         * read our settings from the right place. */
+        shim_export_extra(operation_prefix);
+
         /* Ensure we now have some kind of config */
         if (!lsi_config_load(&lsi_config)) {
                 lsi_config_load_defaults(&lsi_config);
         }
 
-        /* We might have additional variables we need to export */
-        shim_export_extra(operation_prefix);
-
         /* Force STEAM_RUNTIME into the environment */
         if (lsi_config.use_native_runtime) {
                 /* Explicitly disable the runtime */