diff --git a/core/core-packages.el b/core/core-packages.el
index 7788a1051..9143cf8d9 100644
--- a/core/core-packages.el
+++ b/core/core-packages.el
@@ -465,8 +465,8 @@ added, if the file exists."
                                         :size (if modules (length modules) 100)
                                         :rehash-threshold 1.0)))
     (when (null modules)
-      (let ((init-file (expand-file-name "init.el" doom-private-dir))
-            (short-init-file (abbreviate-file-name init-file)))
+      (let* ((init-file (expand-file-name "init.el" doom-private-dir))
+             (short-init-file (abbreviate-file-name init-file)))
         (if (not (file-exists-p init-file))
             (warn "%s doesn't exist" short-init-file)
           (with-temp-buffer