diff --git a/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/__init__.py b/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/__init__.py
index 37a4475c8..a17b5b186 100644
--- a/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/__init__.py
+++ b/numba_cuda/numba/cuda/__init__.py
@@ -3,23 +3,21 @@
 from numba.core import config
 from .utils import _readenv
 
-# Enable pynvjitlink if the environment variables NUMBA_CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK
-# or CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK are set, or if the pynvjitlink module is found. If
-# explicitly disabled, do not use pynvjitlink, even if present in the env.
-_pynvjitlink_enabled_in_env = _readenv(
-    "NUMBA_CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK", bool, None
-)
-_pynvjitlink_enabled_in_cfg = getattr(config, "CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK", None)
-
-if _pynvjitlink_enabled_in_env is not None:
-    ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK = _pynvjitlink_enabled_in_env
-elif _pynvjitlink_enabled_in_cfg is not None:
-    ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK = _pynvjitlink_enabled_in_cfg
-else:
-    ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK = importlib.util.find_spec("pynvjitlink") is not None
-
-if not hasattr(config, "CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK"):
-    config.CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK = ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK
+# Enable pynvjitlink based on the following precedence:
+# 1. Config setting "CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK" (highest priority)
+# 2. Environment variable "NUMBA_CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK"
+# 3. Auto-detection of pynvjitlink module (lowest priority)
+if getattr(config, "CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK", None) is None:
+    if (
+        _pynvjitlink_enabled_in_env := _readenv(
+            "NUMBA_CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK", bool, None
+        )
+    ) is not None:
+        config.CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK = _pynvjitlink_enabled_in_env
+    else:
+        config.CUDA_ENABLE_PYNVJITLINK = (
+            importlib.util.find_spec("pynvjitlink") is not None
+        )
 
 # Upstream numba sets CUDA_USE_NVIDIA_BINDING to 0 by default, so it always
 # exists. Override, but not if explicitly set to 0 in the envioronment.