diff --git a/build.xml b/build.xml
index ce2b9ad7d..bcaff660a 100644
--- a/build.xml
+++ b/build.xml
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 
 <project name="Ant" default="main" basedir=".">
 
+  <!-- Give user a chance to override without editing this file 
+       (and without typing -D each time it compiles it -->
+  <property file="${user.home}/.ant.properties" />
+
   <property name="Name" value="Ant"/>
   <property name="name" value="ant"/>
   <property name="version" value="1.2alpha"/>
@@ -29,10 +33,6 @@
 
   <property name="build.compiler" value="classic"/>
 
-  <!-- Give user a chance to override without editing this file 
-       (and without typing -D each time it compiles it -->
-  <property file="${user.home}/.ant.properties" />
-
   <!-- =================================================================== -->
   <!-- Check to see what optional dependencies are available               -->
   <!-- =================================================================== -->