diff --git a/pkgtool.pm b/pkgtool.pm
index 871332b..bdf9f50 100644
--- a/pkgtool.pm
+++ b/pkgtool.pm
@@ -1361,6 +1361,12 @@ sub sort_package ($$)
 {
 	my ($a, $b) = @_;
 
+	if (! defined $a) {
+		return 0 unless defined $b;
+		return 1;
+	}
+	return -1 unless defined $b;
+
 	my $auninst = $$a{Uninstall};
 	my $aquninst = $$a{QUninstall};
 	$auninst = $aquninst if defined $aquninst;
@@ -1368,12 +1374,6 @@ sub sort_package ($$)
 	my $bquninst = $$b{QUninstall};
 	$buninst = $aquninst if defined $bquninst;
 
-	if (! defined $a) {
-		return 0 unless defined $b;
-		return 1;
-	}
-	return -1 unless defined $b;
-
 	my $amsi = $auninst =~ /msiexec/io;
 	my $bmsi = $buninst =~ /msiexec/io;
 	if (! $amsi) {