diff --git a/Shorewall/lib.config b/Shorewall/lib.config
index 39097e20c..9dc892fc3 100644
--- a/Shorewall/lib.config
+++ b/Shorewall/lib.config
@@ -1852,6 +1852,8 @@ do_initialize() {
 
     [ -f $VERSION_FILE ] && VERSION=$(cat $VERSION_FILE)
 
+    [ -n "$SHOREWALL_DIR" ] && CONFIG_PATH=$SHOREWALL_DIR:$CONFIG_PATH
+
     run_user_exit params
 
     config=$(find_file shorewall.conf)
@@ -1880,8 +1882,6 @@ do_initialize() {
 
     [ -n "${MODULE_SUFFIX:=o gz ko o.gz ko.gz}" ]
 
-    [ -n "$SHOREWALL_DIR" ] && CONFIG_PATH=$SHOREWALL_DIR:$CONFIG_PATH
-
     if [ -z "$EXPORT" -a "$(whoami)" = root ]; then
 
 	load_kernel_modules