diff --git a/cibuildwheel/linux.py b/cibuildwheel/linux.py
index db066394..adffa8c7 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/linux.py
+++ b/cibuildwheel/linux.py
@@ -91,13 +91,13 @@ def build(project_dir, output_dir, test_command, test_requires, test_extras, bef
                     PYBIN="{config_python_bin}"
                     export PATH="$PYBIN:$PATH"
 
+                    {environment_exports}
+
                     # check the active python and pip are in PYBIN
                     # if `test` returns false, the script will exit due to errexit
                     test "$(which pip)" = "$PYBIN/pip"
                     test "$(which python)" = "$PYBIN/python"
 
-                    {environment_exports}
-
                     if [ ! -z {before_build} ]; then
                         sh -c {before_build}
                     fi