diff --git a/apps/openmw/main.cpp b/apps/openmw/main.cpp
index 51281e213e..e3158d2687 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/main.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/main.cpp
@@ -168,8 +168,6 @@ bool parseOptions (int argc, char** argv, OMW::Engine& engine, Files::Configurat
     bpo::store(valid_opts, variables);
     bpo::notify(variables);
 
-    cfgMgr.readConfiguration(variables, desc);
-
     bool run = true;
 
     if (variables.count ("help"))
@@ -187,6 +185,8 @@ bool parseOptions (int argc, char** argv, OMW::Engine& engine, Files::Configurat
     if (!run)
         return false;
 
+    cfgMgr.readConfiguration(variables, desc);
+
     engine.setGrabMouse(!variables.count("no-grab"));
 
     // Font encoding settings