diff --git a/testcases/lib/i3test.pm.in b/testcases/lib/i3test.pm.in
index f9b3e939..ca64edfd 100644
--- a/testcases/lib/i3test.pm.in
+++ b/testcases/lib/i3test.pm.in
@@ -834,8 +834,11 @@ sub launch_with_config {
 
     my ($fh, $tmpfile) = tempfile("i3-cfg-for-$ENV{TESTNAME}-XXXXX", UNLINK => 1);
 
+    say $fh "ipc-socket $tmp_socket_path"
+        unless $args{dont_add_socket_path};
+
     if ($config ne '-default') {
-        say $fh $config;
+        print $fh $config;
     } else {
         open(my $conf_fh, '<', '@abs_top_srcdir@/testcases/i3-test.config')
             or $tester->BAIL_OUT("could not open default config: $!");
@@ -843,9 +846,6 @@ sub launch_with_config {
         say $fh scalar <$conf_fh>;
     }
 
-    say $fh "ipc-socket $tmp_socket_path"
-        unless $args{dont_add_socket_path};
-
     close($fh);
 
     my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;