diff --git a/packages/babel-core/src/transformation/file/options/option-manager.js b/packages/babel-core/src/transformation/file/options/option-manager.js
index c65108039c..9683b3519c 100644
--- a/packages/babel-core/src/transformation/file/options/option-manager.js
+++ b/packages/babel-core/src/transformation/file/options/option-manager.js
@@ -365,14 +365,14 @@ export default class OptionManager {
   init(opts: Object = {}): Object {
     let filename = opts.filename;
 
-    // resolve all .babelrc files
-    if (opts.babelrc !== false) {
-      this.findConfigs(filename);
-    }
-
     // merge in base options
     this.mergeOptions(opts, this.options, "base", null, filename && path.dirname(filename));
 
+    // resolve all .babelrc files
+    if (this.options.babelrc !== false) {
+      this.findConfigs(filename);
+    }
+
     // normalise
     this.normaliseOptions(opts);