diff --git a/terraform/node_resource_destroy.go b/terraform/node_resource_destroy.go
index 1df561b4a..27ee4ff2e 100644
--- a/terraform/node_resource_destroy.go
+++ b/terraform/node_resource_destroy.go
@@ -53,22 +53,24 @@ func (n *NodeDestroyResourceInstance) DestroyAddr() *addrs.AbsResourceInstance {
 
 // GraphNodeDestroyerCBD
 func (n *NodeDestroyResourceInstance) CreateBeforeDestroy() bool {
-	if n.CreateBeforeDestroyOverride != nil {
-		return *n.CreateBeforeDestroyOverride
-	}
-
-	// Config takes precedence
-	if n.Config != nil && n.Config.Managed != nil {
-		return n.Config.Managed.CreateBeforeDestroy
-	}
-
-	// Otherwise check the state for a stored destroy order
+	// State takes precedence during destroy.
+	// If the resource was removed, there is no config to check.
+	// If CBD was forced from descendent, it should be saved in the state
+	// already.
 	if s := n.instanceState; s != nil {
 		if s.Current != nil {
 			return s.Current.CreateBeforeDestroy
 		}
 	}
 
+	if n.CreateBeforeDestroyOverride != nil {
+		return *n.CreateBeforeDestroyOverride
+	}
+
+	if n.Config != nil && n.Config.Managed != nil {
+		return n.Config.Managed.CreateBeforeDestroy
+	}
+
 	return false
 }