diff --git a/lisp/paths.el b/lisp/paths.el
index 08911c8be7d..b2b32ac2e4f 100644
--- a/lisp/paths.el
+++ b/lisp/paths.el
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
 		      (not (string= configure-info-directory usrdir))
 		      (list usrdir)))
 	 (configdir (file-name-as-directory configure-info-directory)))
-    (setq start (nconc start (list configdir) sysdir))
+    (setq start (nconc start sysdir (list configdir)))
     start)
   "Default list of directories to search for Info documentation files.
 They are searched in the order they are given in the list.