diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/brew.rb b/Library/Homebrew/brew.rb
index bb663537d7..f31224ab25 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/brew.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/brew.rb
@@ -69,6 +69,14 @@ begin
     end
   end
 
+  unless internal_cmd
+    # Add contributed commands to PATH before checking.
+    homebrew_path.append(Tap.cmd_directories)
+
+    # External commands expect a normal PATH
+    ENV["PATH"] = homebrew_path
+  end
+
   # Usage instructions should be displayed if and only if one of:
   # - a help flag is passed AND a command is matched
   # - a help flag is passed AND there is no command specified
@@ -88,14 +96,6 @@ begin
     system(HOMEBREW_BREW_FILE, "uninstall", "--force", "brew-cask")
   end
 
-  unless internal_cmd
-    # Add contributed commands to PATH before checking.
-    homebrew_path.append(Tap.cmd_directories)
-
-    # External commands expect a normal PATH
-    ENV["PATH"] = homebrew_path
-  end
-
   if internal_cmd
     Homebrew.send cmd.to_s.tr("-", "_").downcase
   elsif which "brew-#{cmd}"