diff --git a/highlight.scm b/highlight.scm
index f0da903..9961f60 100644
--- a/highlight.scm
+++ b/highlight.scm
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@
     ((html) 'html)
     (else #f)))
 
-(let ((type (or (guess-type-by-file-extension *file*)
-                (guess-type-by-emacs-major-mode-variable *file-contents*))))
+(let ((type (or (guess-type-by-emacs-major-mode-variable *file-contents*)
+                (guess-type-by-file-extension *file*))))
   (if (not type)
       (begin (display *file-contents*) (exit 0))
       (begin