diff --git a/tests/run-tests.py b/tests/run-tests.py
--- a/tests/run-tests.py
+++ b/tests/run-tests.py
@@ -905,13 +905,6 @@ def runone(options, test):
                     ignore("doesn't match keyword")
                     return None
 
-    vlog("# Test", test)
-
-    createhgrc(HGRCPATH, options)
-
-    if os.path.exists(err):
-        os.remove(err)       # Remove any previous output files
-
     for ext, func, out in testtypes:
         if lctest.startswith("test-") and lctest.endswith(ext):
             runner = func
@@ -920,6 +913,13 @@ def runone(options, test):
     else:
         return skip("unknown test type")
 
+    vlog("# Test", test)
+
+    createhgrc(HGRCPATH, options)
+
+    if os.path.exists(err):
+        os.remove(err)       # Remove any previous output files
+
     # Make a tmp subdirectory to work in
     testtmp = os.environ["TESTTMP"] = os.environ["HOME"] = \
         os.path.join(HGTMP, os.path.basename(test))