diff --git a/environments/go/builder/build.sh b/environments/go/builder/build.sh
index e2fa20a9..435dfd47 100755
--- a/environments/go/builder/build.sh
+++ b/environments/go/builder/build.sh
@@ -22,16 +22,18 @@ fi
 
 cd ${srcDir}
 
-if [ -f "go.mod" ]; then
-    if [ ! -z ${GOLANG_VERSION} ] && version_ge ${GOLANG_VERSION} "1.12"; then
+if [ ! -z ${GOLANG_VERSION} ] && version_ge ${GOLANG_VERSION} "1.12"; then
+    if [ -f "go.mod" ]; then
         go mod download
     else
+        # still need to do this; otherwise, go will complain "cannot find main module".
+        go mod init
+    fi
+else # go version lower than go 1.12
+    if [ -f "go.mod" ]; then
         echo "Please update fission/go-builder and fission/go-env image to the latest version to support go module"
         exit 1
     fi
-else
-    # still need to do this; otherwise, go will complain "cannot find main module".
-    go mod init
 fi
 
 go build -buildmode=plugin -i -o ${DEPLOY_PKG} .