diff --git a/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/envvars.go b/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/envvars.go
index 4e632543820460..824af0712207e2 100644
--- a/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/envvars.go
+++ b/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/envvars.go
@@ -370,6 +370,18 @@ func (v version) BuildFromEnvvars(in interface{}) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if telemetryValue := envvars.Distribution; telemetryValue != "" {
+		log.Infof("Setting deployment platform: %s", telemetryValue)
+		if cfg.Experimental == nil {
+			cfg.Experimental = &experimental.Config{}
+		}
+
+		if cfg.Experimental.Telemetry == nil {
+			cfg.Experimental.Telemetry = &experimental.TelemetryConfig{}
+		}
+		cfg.Experimental.Telemetry.Data.Platform = telemetryValue
+	}
+
 	cfg.Components = nil
 	cfg.Customization = nil
 	if envvars.AdvancedModeEnabled {
@@ -403,28 +415,17 @@ func (v version) BuildFromEnvvars(in interface{}) error {
 
 			cfg.Customization = customization.Customization
 		}
-	} else {
-		log.Info("No advanced configuration applied")
-	}
 
-	if telemetryValue := envvars.Distribution; telemetryValue != "" {
-		if cfg.Experimental == nil {
-			cfg.Experimental = &experimental.Config{}
-		}
-
-		if cfg.Experimental.Telemetry == nil {
-			cfg.Experimental.Telemetry = &experimental.TelemetryConfig{}
-		}
-		cfg.Experimental.Telemetry.Data.Platform = telemetryValue
-	}
+		if cfgPatch := envvars.ConfigPatch; cfgPatch != "" {
+			log.Warnf("Applying patch customization - this may overwrite all settings: %+v", cfgPatch)
 
-	if cfgPatch := envvars.ConfigPatch; cfgPatch != "" {
-		log.Warnf("Applying patch customization - this may overwrite all settings: %+v", cfgPatch)
-
-		err := yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(cfgPatch), &cfg)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			err := yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(cfgPatch), &cfg)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
+	} else {
+		log.Info("No advanced configuration applied")
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/testdata/envvars/config-patch-no-advanced-mode/envvars.yaml b/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/testdata/envvars/config-patch-no-advanced-mode/envvars.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..d75bca67817a58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/testdata/envvars/config-patch-no-advanced-mode/envvars.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2022 Gitpod GmbH. All rights reserved.
+# Licensed under the MIT License. See License-MIT.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+envvars:
+  # This will be ignored as advanced mode not enabled
+  CONFIG_PATCH: "domain: override.gitpod.io"
+  DOMAIN: gitpod.io
diff --git a/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/testdata/envvars/config-patch-no-advanced-mode/expect.yaml b/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/testdata/envvars/config-patch-no-advanced-mode/expect.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..1b6bed9ae0630c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/testdata/envvars/config-patch-no-advanced-mode/expect.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2022 Gitpod GmbH. All rights reserved.
+# Licensed under the MIT License. See License-MIT.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+domain: gitpod.io
diff --git a/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/testdata/envvars/config-patch/envvars.yaml b/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/testdata/envvars/config-patch/envvars.yaml
index 829a0fd33ae7ad..065263ce92fdc6 100644
--- a/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/testdata/envvars/config-patch/envvars.yaml
+++ b/install/installer/pkg/config/v1/testdata/envvars/config-patch/envvars.yaml
@@ -2,5 +2,6 @@
 # Licensed under the MIT License. See License-MIT.txt in the project root for license information.
 
 envvars:
+  ADVANCED_MODE_ENABLED: "1"
   CONFIG_PATCH: "domain: override.gitpod.io"
   DOMAIN: gitpod.io