diff --git a/rattail/config.py b/rattail/config.py
index 427763391dec7f87acb70b7b9cb4d5c18dae5c71..3db51d9b397473b9ec57931464df968744f12cd7 100644
--- a/rattail/config.py
+++ b/rattail/config.py
@@ -779,29 +779,29 @@ def make_config(
         from rattail.db.config import configure_versioning
         configure_versioning(config)
 
+        # TODO: holy crap why is this needed?  without it, the first time
+        # a trainwreck query happens, InvalidRequestError is raised.  but
+        # this is clearly a trainwreck query, and yet no error if we do it
+        # this early in the startup sequence?!  i have no idea what is
+        # going on here but at least this "works" - fingers crossed..
+        if getattr(config, 'trainwreck_engines', None):
+            app = config.get_app()
+            trainwreck = app.get_trainwreck_handler()
+            try:
+                trainwreck_model = trainwreck.get_model()
+            except WuttaConfigurationError:
+                pass
+            else:
+                trainwreck_session = trainwreck.make_session()
+                trainwreck_session.query(trainwreck_model.Transaction).first()
+                trainwreck_session.close()
+
     # maybe set "future" behavior for SQLAlchemy
     if config.get_bool('rattail.db.sqlalchemy_future_mode', usedb=False):
         from rattail.db import Session
         if Session:
             Session.configure(future=True)
 
-    # TODO: holy crap why is this needed?  without it, the first time
-    # a trainwreck query happens, InvalidRequestError is raised.  but
-    # this is clearly a trainwreck query, and yet no error if we do it
-    # this early in the startup sequence?!  i have no idea what is
-    # going on here but at least this "works" - fingers crossed..
-    if getattr(config, 'trainwreck_engines', None):
-        app = config.get_app()
-        trainwreck = app.get_trainwreck_handler()
-        try:
-            trainwreck_model = trainwreck.get_model()
-        except WuttaConfigurationError:
-            pass
-        else:
-            trainwreck_session = trainwreck.make_session()
-            trainwreck_session.query(trainwreck_model.Transaction).first()
-            trainwreck_session.close()
-
     return config