diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index 11eef1c85d..da96577ea8 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -290,9 +290,6 @@ int git_diff_ui_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (git_diff_heuristic_config(var, value, cb) < 0)
-		return -1;
-
 	if (!strcmp(var, "diff.wserrorhighlight")) {
 		int val = parse_ws_error_highlight(value);
 		if (val < 0)
@@ -351,6 +348,9 @@ int git_diff_basic_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 	if (starts_with(var, "submodule."))
 		return parse_submodule_config_option(var, value);
 
+	if (git_diff_heuristic_config(var, value, cb) < 0)
+		return -1;
+
 	return git_default_config(var, value, cb);
 }