diff --git a/config/sources/common.conf b/config/sources/common.conf
index a1f2bca066..b6d2f386de 100644
--- a/config/sources/common.conf
+++ b/config/sources/common.conf
@@ -100,6 +100,11 @@ function late_family_config__common_defaults_for_mainline_kernel() {
 		display_alert "LINUXCONFIG is set by board/family/hooks to '${LINUXCONFIG}'" "common_defaults_for_mainline" "debug"
 	fi
 
+	# If LINUFAMILY is unset... bomb
+	if [[ -z ${LINUXFAMILY} ]]; then
+		exit_with_error "LINUXFAMILY is unset after family config; KERNELSOURCE=${KERNELSOURCE}"
+	fi
+
 	# Generic defaultings, used for all kernels (including vendor/legacy/3rd-party and mainline).
 	# If KERNEL_PATCH_ARCHIVE_BASE is unset, set it to LINUXFAMILY.
 	if [[ -z ${KERNEL_PATCH_ARCHIVE_BASE} ]]; then # @TODO: this is a bad idea, remove
@@ -113,11 +118,6 @@ function late_family_config__common_defaults_for_mainline_kernel() {
 		KERNELPATCHDIR="archive/${KERNEL_PATCH_ARCHIVE_BASE}-${KERNEL_MAJOR_MINOR}" # previously was KERNELPATCHDIR="$LINUXFAMILY-$BRANCH"
 	fi
 
-	# If LINUFAMILY is unset... bomb
-	if [[ -z ${LINUXFAMILY} ]]; then
-		exit_with_error "LINUXFAMILY is unset after family config; KERNELSOURCE=${KERNELSOURCE}"
-	fi
-
 	# if LINUXCONFIG is unset... default to linux-${LINUXFAMILY}-${BRANCH} # Attention: no KERNEL_MAJOR_MINOR here, so manual file rollover is necessary
 	if [[ -z ${LINUXCONFIG} ]]; then
 		display_alert "LINUXCONFIG is unset; using 'linux-${LINUXFAMILY}-${BRANCH}'" "common_defaults_for_mainline" "debug"