diff --git a/meta/conf/bitbake.conf b/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
index b4669d314f..501863bfe6 100644
--- a/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
+++ b/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
@@ -648,6 +648,7 @@ CPU_FEATURES_arm ?= "vfp"
 # Include the rest of the config files.
 ##################################################################
 
+require conf/abi_version.conf
 include conf/site.conf
 include conf/auto.conf
 include conf/local.conf
@@ -659,7 +660,6 @@ include conf/distro/${DISTRO}.conf
 include conf/distro/defaultsetup.conf
 include conf/documentation.conf
 require conf/sanity.conf
-require conf/abi_version.conf
 
 ##################################################################
 # Weak variables (usually to retain backwards compatibility)