diff --git a/mesonbuild/environment.py b/mesonbuild/environment.py
index 369ca204d..1586248e5 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/environment.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/environment.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ class Environment():
     def is_cross_build(self):
         return self.cross_info is not None
 
-    def generating_finished(self):
+    def dump_coredata(self):
         cdf = os.path.join(self.get_build_dir(), Environment.coredata_file)
         coredata.save(self.coredata, cdf)
 
diff --git a/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py b/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py
index 1a7b0849d..543a31f99 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ itself as required.'''
         mlog.log('Build machine cpu family:', mlog.bold(intr.builtin['build_machine'].cpu_family_method([], {})))
         mlog.log('Build machine cpu:', mlog.bold(intr.builtin['build_machine'].cpu_method([], {})))
         intr.run()
+        env.dump_coredata()
         g.generate(intr)
-        env.generating_finished()
         dumpfile = os.path.join(env.get_scratch_dir(), 'build.dat')
         pickle.dump(b, open(dumpfile, 'wb'))