diff --git a/ident.c b/ident.c
index 69a04b827d..3d49608e6f 100644
--- a/ident.c
+++ b/ident.c
@@ -195,10 +195,10 @@ const char *fmt_ident(const char *name, const char *email,
 	setup_ident();
 	if (!name)
 		name = git_default_name;
-	if (!email)
-		email = getenv("EMAIL");
 	if (!email)
 		email = git_default_email;
+	if (!email)
+		email = getenv("EMAIL");
 
 	if (!*name) {
 		struct passwd *pw;