diff --git a/flopy/mbase.py b/flopy/mbase.py
index 086b026d0c..bf47d3edea 100644
--- a/flopy/mbase.py
+++ b/flopy/mbase.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
     flopy_bin = os.path.expandvars(r"%LOCALAPPDATA%\flopy\bin")
 else:
     flopy_bin = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".local/share/flopy/bin")
-os.environ["PATH"] = flopy_bin + os.path.pathsep + os.environ.get("PATH", "")
+os.environ["PATH"] = os.environ.get("PATH", "") + os.path.pathsep + flopy_bin
 
 ## Global variables
 # Multiplier for individual array elements in integer and real arrays read by