diff --git a/go/cmd/vtgate/vtgate.go b/go/cmd/vtgate/vtgate.go
index 35f11536b3..0371a15e4e 100644
--- a/go/cmd/vtgate/vtgate.go
+++ b/go/cmd/vtgate/vtgate.go
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ func main() {
 	defer exit.Recover()
 
 	servenv.ParseFlags("vtgate")
-	servenv.Init()
 	vtGateViperConfig.LoadAndWatchConfigFile()
+	servenv.Init()
 
 	ts := topo.Open()
 	defer ts.Close()
diff --git a/go/cmd/vttablet/vttablet.go b/go/cmd/vttablet/vttablet.go
index 85ce11673b..da95a269d8 100644
--- a/go/cmd/vttablet/vttablet.go
+++ b/go/cmd/vttablet/vttablet.go
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ func main() {
 	mysqlctl.RegisterFlags()
 
 	servenv.ParseFlags("vttablet")
-	servenv.Init()
 	vtTabletViperConfig.LoadAndWatchConfigFile()
+	servenv.Init()
 
 	if tableACLMode != global.TableACLModeSimple && tableACLMode != global.TableACLModeMysqlBased {
 		log.Exit("require table-acl-config-mode")