diff --git a/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/jvm/jvmArguments.kt b/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/jvm/jvmArguments.kt
index a22c21e33a2..baabbcb9d2a 100644
--- a/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/jvm/jvmArguments.kt
+++ b/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/jvm/jvmArguments.kt
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ fun CompilerConfiguration.configureAdvancedJvmOptions(arguments: K2JVMCompilerAr
     put(JVMConfigurationKeys.PARAMETERS_METADATA, arguments.javaParameters)
 
     // TODO: ignore previous configuration value when we do not need old backend in scripting by default
-    val useOldBackend = arguments.useOldBackend || get(JVMConfigurationKeys.IR) == false
+    val useOldBackend = arguments.useOldBackend || (!arguments.useIR && get(JVMConfigurationKeys.IR) == false)
     val useIR = arguments.useFir ||
             if (languageVersionSettings.supportsFeature(LanguageFeature.JvmIrEnabledByDefault)) {
                 !useOldBackend