diff --git a/lix/nix/main.cc b/lix/nix/main.cc
index 5e23f9b2a..1cdfcf2e2 100644
--- a/lix/nix/main.cc
+++ b/lix/nix/main.cc
@@ -458,12 +458,12 @@ int mainWrapped(AsyncIoRoot & aio, int argc, char ** argv)
         return 0;
     }
 
-    initNix();
-    initLibExpr();
-
     GlobalConfig::registerGlobalConfig(daemonAuthorizationSettings);
     GlobalConfig::registerGlobalConfig(nixDevelopSettings);
 
+    initNix();
+    initLibExpr();
+
 #if __linux__
     if (getuid() == 0) {
         try {