diff --git a/src/workflow/lint/ArcanistLintWorkflow.php b/src/workflow/lint/ArcanistLintWorkflow.php
index 17a6fe3b..c4bef5be 100644
--- a/src/workflow/lint/ArcanistLintWorkflow.php
+++ b/src/workflow/lint/ArcanistLintWorkflow.php
@@ -96,6 +96,11 @@ EOTEXT
     $engine = $this->getArgument('engine');
     if (!$engine) {
       $engine = $working_copy->getConfig('lint_engine');
+      if (!$engine) {
+        throw new ArcanistNoEngineException(
+          "No lint engine configured for this project. Edit .arcconfig to ".
+          "specify a lint engine.");
+      }
     }
 
     $should_lint_all = $this->getArgument('lintall');
@@ -153,12 +158,6 @@ EOTEXT
       }
     }
 
-    if (!$engine) {
-      throw new ArcanistNoEngineException(
-        "No lint engine configured for this project. Edit .arcconfig to ".
-        "specify a lint engine.");
-    }
-
     PhutilSymbolLoader::loadClass($engine);
 
     $engine = newv($engine, array());