--- eutils.eclass.old
+++ eutils.eclass
@@ -1319,7 +1319,6 @@ check_license() {
 			lic="${lic}"
 		fi
 	fi
-	[ ! -f "${lic}" ] && die "Could not find requested license ${lic}"
 	local l="`basename ${lic}`"
 
 	# here is where we check for the licenses the user already
@@ -1335,6 +1334,10 @@ check_license() {
 	done
 	set +o noglob; set -$shopts #reset old shell opts
 
+	# effectively check if license file is available now that
+	# ACCEPT_LICENSE has been checked
+	[ ! -f "${lic}" ] && die "Could not find requested license ${lic}"
+
 	local licmsg=$(emktemp)
 	cat <<-EOF > ${licmsg}
 	**********************************************************