diff --git a/tools/virsh.c b/tools/virsh.c
index 57b4ff3475..8c616d6373 100644
--- a/tools/virsh.c
+++ b/tools/virsh.c
@@ -968,9 +968,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     virFileActivateDirOverride(argv[0]);
 
-    if ((defaultConn = virGetEnvBlockSUID("VIRSH_DEFAULT_CONNECT_URI")))
-        ctl->connname = vshStrdup(ctl, defaultConn);
-
     if (!vshInit(ctl, cmdGroups, NULL))
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 
@@ -980,6 +977,9 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
+    if ((defaultConn = virGetEnvBlockSUID("VIRSH_DEFAULT_CONNECT_URI")))
+        ctl->connname = vshStrdup(ctl, defaultConn);
+
     if (!ctl->imode) {
         ret = vshCommandRun(ctl, ctl->cmd);
     } else {