diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
index 9a6f767..439c4f2 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
@@ -600,6 +600,10 @@ class DataSmart(MutableMapping):
                 value = copy.copy(local_var[flag])
             elif flag == "_content" and "defaultval" in local_var and not noweakdefault:
                 value = copy.copy(local_var["defaultval"])
+        if value is not None and flag == "_content" and local_var is not None and "_removeactive" in local_var:
+            filtered = filter(lambda v: v not in local_var["_removeactive"],
+                              value.split(" "))
+            value = " ".join(filtered)
         if expand and value:
             # Only getvar (flag == _content) hits the expand cache
             cachename = None
@@ -608,10 +612,6 @@ class DataSmart(MutableMapping):
             else:
                 cachename = var + "[" + flag + "]"
             value = self.expand(value, cachename)
-        if value is not None and flag == "_content" and local_var is not None and "_removeactive" in local_var:
-            filtered = filter(lambda v: v not in local_var["_removeactive"],
-                              value.split(" "))
-            value = " ".join(filtered)
         return value

     def delVarFlag(self, var, flag, **loginfo):