diff --git a/dev b/dev
index 18e4cbc93..485235432 100755
--- a/dev
+++ b/dev
@@ -321,13 +321,14 @@ boot() {
     ## Make erl command aware where to load all the beams
     ## this should be done before every erl command
     prepare_erl_libs "$PROFILE"
+    ## make sure copy acl.conf and certs to etc before render_hocon_conf
+    ## hocon will check rules inside acl.conf.
+    copy_other_conf_files
     render_hocon_conf
     generate_app_conf
     append_args_file
-    copy_other_conf_files
     APPS="$(apps_to_load)"
 
-
     BOOT_SEQUENCE="
         Apps=[${APPS}],
         ok=lists:foreach(fun application:load/1, Apps),