diff --git a/env.cpp b/env.cpp
index 749c1b1b7..167e0a362 100644
--- a/env.cpp
+++ b/env.cpp
@@ -530,11 +530,6 @@ void env_init(const struct config_paths_t *paths /* or NULL */)
     env_set(L"version", version.c_str(), ENV_GLOBAL);
     env_set(L"FISH_VERSION", version.c_str(), ENV_GLOBAL);
 
-    /* Set up universal variables. The empty string means to use the deafult path. */
-    assert(s_universal_variables == NULL);
-    s_universal_variables = new env_universal_t(L"");
-    s_universal_variables->load();
-
     /*
       Set up SHLVL variable
     */
@@ -570,6 +565,11 @@ void env_init(const struct config_paths_t *paths /* or NULL */)
     /* Set PWD */
     env_set_pwd();
 
+    /* Set up universal variables. The empty string means to use the deafult path. */
+    assert(s_universal_variables == NULL);
+    s_universal_variables = new env_universal_t(L"");
+    s_universal_variables->load();
+
     /* Set g_log_forks */
     env_var_t log_forks = env_get_string(L"fish_log_forks");
     g_log_forks = ! log_forks.missing_or_empty() && from_string<bool>(log_forks);
diff --git a/env_universal_common.cpp b/env_universal_common.cpp
index f84f18ec5..c39cfdc1e 100644
--- a/env_universal_common.cpp
+++ b/env_universal_common.cpp
@@ -547,28 +547,12 @@ bool env_universal_t::move_new_vars_file_into_place(const wcstring &src, const w
     return ret == 0;
 }
 
-/**
- Get environment variable value.
- */
-static env_var_t fishd_env_get(const char *key)
-{
-    const char *env = getenv(key);
-    if (env != NULL)
-    {
-        return env_var_t(str2wcstring(env));
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        return env_var_t::missing_var();
-    }
-}
-
 static wcstring fishd_get_config()
 {
     bool done = false;
     wcstring result;
-    
-    env_var_t xdg_dir = fishd_env_get("XDG_CONFIG_HOME");
+
+    env_var_t xdg_dir = env_get_string(L"XDG_CONFIG_HOME", ENV_GLOBAL | ENV_EXPORT);
     if (! xdg_dir.missing_or_empty())
     {
         result = xdg_dir;
@@ -580,7 +564,7 @@ static wcstring fishd_get_config()
     }
     else
     {
-        env_var_t home = fishd_env_get("HOME");
+        env_var_t home = env_get_string(L"HOME", ENV_GLOBAL | ENV_EXPORT);
         if (! home.missing_or_empty())
         {
             result = home;