diff --git a/javascript/extractor/src/com/semmle/js/extractor/AutoBuild.java b/javascript/extractor/src/com/semmle/js/extractor/AutoBuild.java
index 883b6efb859..445f1116ec7 100644
--- a/javascript/extractor/src/com/semmle/js/extractor/AutoBuild.java
+++ b/javascript/extractor/src/com/semmle/js/extractor/AutoBuild.java
@@ -447,10 +447,10 @@ public class AutoBuild {
     startThreadPool();
     try {
       extractSource();
-      extractXml();
       if (hasSeenCode()) { // don't bother with the externs if no code was seen
         extractExterns();
       }
+      extractXml();
     } finally {
       shutdownThreadPool();
     }