diff --git a/gen_configkernel.sh b/gen_configkernel.sh
index 69307ef..a65c997 100644
--- a/gen_configkernel.sh
+++ b/gen_configkernel.sh
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ config_kernel() {
 	if isTrue ${CLEAN}
 	then
 		print_info 1 "kernel: using config from ${KERNEL_CONFIG} -- prev backed up to .config.bak"
-		cp "${KERNEL_CONFIG}" "${KERNEL_DIR}/.config" || gen_die "could not copy config file"
 		cp "${KERNEL_DIR}/.config" "${KERNEL_DIR}/.config.bak" > /dev/null 2>&1
+		cp "${KERNEL_CONFIG}" "${KERNEL_DIR}/.config" || gen_die "could not copy config file"
 
 		print_info 1 "kernel: running oldconfig"
 		yes "" | compile_generic "oldconfig" kernel