diff --git a/core/install.php b/core/install.php
index 7b8478f81f..f859726aab 100644
--- a/core/install.php
+++ b/core/install.php
@@ -21,15 +21,15 @@
  */
 define('MAINTENANCE_MODE', 'install');
 
+// Initialize the autoloader.
+$class_loader = require_once $root_path . '/autoload.php';
+
 // Exit early if running an incompatible PHP version to avoid fatal errors.
 if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, \Drupal::MINIMUM_PHP) < 0) {
   print 'Your PHP installation is too old. Drupal requires at least PHP ' . \Drupal::MINIMUM_PHP . '. See the <a href="https://www.drupal.org/node/3053125">Environment requirements of Drupal 9</a> page for more information.';
   exit;
 }
 
-// Initialize the autoloader.
-$class_loader = require_once $root_path . '/autoload.php';
-
 // If OPCache is in use, ensure opcache.save_comments is enabled.
 if (OpCodeCache::isEnabled() && !ini_get('opcache.save_comments')) {
   print 'Systems with OPcache installed must have <a href="http://php.net/manual/opcache.configuration.php#ini.opcache.save-comments">opcache.save_comments</a> enabled.';