diff --git a/lib/bashly/views/command/initialize.gtx b/lib/bashly/views/command/initialize.gtx
index 0b61fdec..fb019ef4 100644
--- a/lib/bashly/views/command/initialize.gtx
+++ b/lib/bashly/views/command/initialize.gtx
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 
 if root_command?
   > 
-  = render(:variables).indent(2)
   = render(:environment_variables_default).indent 2
+  = render(:variables).indent(2)
 end
 
 if user_file_exist?('initialize')
diff --git a/spec/approvals/fixtures/var-order b/spec/approvals/fixtures/var-order
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4cebc48b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/approvals/fixtures/var-order
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
++ bundle exec bashly generate
+creating user files in src
+skipped src/root_command.sh (exists)
+created ./cli
+run ./cli --help to test your bash script
++ ./cli
+args: none
+
+environment variables:
+- $CLI_CONFIG_FILE = config.yaml
+$config_file == $CLI_CONFIG_FILE == config.yaml
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/.gitignore b/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..76ec9f59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+cli
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/README.md b/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e8a4b9b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+This fixture ensures that environment variables are declared and populated
+begore variables defined in bashly.yml, to allow using the values from them
+in the variables.
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/src/bashly.yml b/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/src/bashly.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3ebdb274
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/src/bashly.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+name: cli
+help: Ensure env var / var order
+version: 0.1.0
+
+environment_variables:
+- name: cli_config_file
+  help: Path to config file
+  default: config.yaml
+
+variables:
+- name: config_file
+  value: $CLI_CONFIG_FILE
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/src/root_command.sh b/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/src/root_command.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..afadcf1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/src/root_command.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+inspect_args
+echo "\$config_file == \$CLI_CONFIG_FILE == $config_file"
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/test.sh b/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/test.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a56dc8d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/workspaces/var-order/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+set -x
+
+bundle exec bashly generate
+./cli
\ No newline at end of file