--- cp-original.c	2016-01-01 19:18:50.000000000 +0530
+++ cp-edited.c	2016-03-29 20:13:47.274362100 +0530
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@
   int c;
   bool ok;
   bool make_backups = false;
-  char *backup_suffix_string;
+  char *backup_suffix_string = NULL;
   char *version_control_string = NULL;
   struct cp_options x;
   bool copy_contents = false;
@@ -939,10 +939,6 @@
   selinux_enabled = (0 < is_selinux_enabled ());
   cp_option_init (&x);
 
-  /* FIXME: consider not calling getenv for SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX unless
-     we'll actually use backup_suffix_string.  */
-  backup_suffix_string = getenv ("SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX");
-
   while ((c = getopt_long (argc, argv, "abdfHilLnprst:uvxPRS:TZ",
                            long_opts, NULL))
          != -1)
@@ -1151,6 +1147,11 @@
       usage (EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
+  /* If backup_suffix_string is still null (i.e. no --suffix or --backup = 
+     numbered | existing), try to get it from environment. */
+  if (!backup_suffix_string)
+    backup_suffix_string = getenv ("SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX");
+
   if (backup_suffix_string)
     simple_backup_suffix = xstrdup (backup_suffix_string);