diff --git a/meta/classes/copyleft_filter.bbclass b/meta/classes/copyleft_filter.bbclass
index 5867bb9f7e..c36bce431a 100644
--- a/meta/classes/copyleft_filter.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/copyleft_filter.bbclass
@@ -47,27 +47,27 @@ def copyleft_should_include(d):
     import oe.license
     from fnmatch import fnmatchcase as fnmatch
 
-    included, motive = False, 'recipe did not match anything'
-
     recipe_type = d.getVar('COPYLEFT_RECIPE_TYPE')
     if recipe_type not in oe.data.typed_value('COPYLEFT_RECIPE_TYPES', d):
-        include, motive = False, 'recipe type "%s" is excluded' % recipe_type
-
-    include = oe.data.typed_value('COPYLEFT_LICENSE_INCLUDE', d)
-    exclude = oe.data.typed_value('COPYLEFT_LICENSE_EXCLUDE', d)
-
-    try:
-        is_included, reason = oe.license.is_included(d.getVar('LICENSE'), include, exclude)
-    except oe.license.LicenseError as exc:
-        bb.fatal('%s: %s' % (d.getVar('PF'), exc))
+        included, motive = False, 'recipe type "%s" is excluded' % recipe_type
     else:
-        if is_included:
-            if reason:
-                included, motive = True, 'recipe has included licenses: %s' % ', '.join(reason)
-            else:
-                included, motive = False, 'recipe does not include a copyleft license'
+        included, motive = False, 'recipe did not match anything'
+
+        include = oe.data.typed_value('COPYLEFT_LICENSE_INCLUDE', d)
+        exclude = oe.data.typed_value('COPYLEFT_LICENSE_EXCLUDE', d)
+
+        try:
+            is_included, reason = oe.license.is_included(d.getVar('LICENSE'), include, exclude)
+        except oe.license.LicenseError as exc:
+            bb.fatal('%s: %s' % (d.getVar('PF'), exc))
         else:
-            included, motive = False, 'recipe has excluded licenses: %s' % ', '.join(reason)
+            if is_included:
+                if reason:
+                    included, motive = True, 'recipe has included licenses: %s' % ', '.join(reason)
+                else:
+                    included, motive = False, 'recipe does not include a copyleft license'
+            else:
+                included, motive = False, 'recipe has excluded licenses: %s' % ', '.join(reason)
 
     if any(fnmatch(d.getVar('PN'), name) \
             for name in oe.data.typed_value('COPYLEFT_PN_INCLUDE', d)):