diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/os/linux.rb b/Library/Homebrew/os/linux.rb
index e605ae5eb0..25096f7ab5 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/os/linux.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/os/linux.rb
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ module OS
         else
           "#{description} (#{codename})"
         end
-      elsif (redhat_release = Pathname.new("/etc/redhat-release")).readable?
-        redhat_release.read.chomp
       elsif ::OS_VERSION.present?
         ::OS_VERSION
+      elsif (redhat_release = Pathname.new("/etc/redhat-release")).readable?
+        redhat_release.read.chomp
       else
         "Unknown"
       end