diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
index f56ad75c1e36..cd15bbeea923 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
@@ -436,12 +436,6 @@ func selectDriver(existing *config.ClusterConfig) registry.DriverState {
 	// Technically unrelated, but important to perform before detection
 	driver.SetLibvirtURI(viper.GetString(kvmQemuURI))
 
-	if viper.GetString("vm-driver") != "" {
-		ds := driver.Status(viper.GetString("vm-driver"))
-		out.T(out.Sparkle, `Using the {{.driver}} driver based on user configuration`, out.V{"driver": ds.String()})
-		return ds
-	}
-
 	// By default, the driver is whatever we used last time
 	if existing != nil && existing.Driver != "" {
 		ds := driver.Status(existing.Driver)
@@ -449,6 +443,12 @@ func selectDriver(existing *config.ClusterConfig) registry.DriverState {
 		return ds
 	}
 
+	if viper.GetString("vm-driver") != "" {
+		ds := driver.Status(viper.GetString("vm-driver"))
+		out.T(out.Sparkle, `Using the {{.driver}} driver based on user configuration`, out.V{"driver": ds.String()})
+		return ds
+	}
+
 	pick, alts := driver.Suggest(driver.Choices())
 	if pick.Name == "" {
 		exit.WithCodeT(exit.Config, "Unable to determine a default driver to use. Try specifying --vm-driver, or see https://minikube.sigs.k8s.io/docs/start/")