diff --git a/autoload/ale/handlers/sh.vim b/autoload/ale/handlers/sh.vim
index f99c3dbd..6ed9fea3 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/handlers/sh.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/handlers/sh.vim
@@ -11,6 +11,17 @@ function! ale#handlers#sh#GetShellType(buffer) abort
         let l:command = substitute(l:shebang, ' --\?[a-zA-Z0-9]\+', '', 'g')
     endif
 
+    " With no shebang line, attempt to use Vim's buffer-local variables.
+    if l:command is# ''
+        if getbufvar(a:buffer, 'is_bash', 0)
+            let l:command = 'bash'
+        elseif getbufvar(a:buffer, 'is_sh', 0)
+            let l:command = 'sh'
+        elseif getbufvar(a:buffer, 'is_kornshell', 0)
+            let l:command = 'ksh'
+        endif
+    endif
+
     " If we couldn't find a shebang, try the filetype
     if l:command is# ''
         let l:command = &filetype
diff --git a/autoload/ale/handlers/shellcheck.vim b/autoload/ale/handlers/shellcheck.vim
index b16280f0..351d6d3f 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/handlers/shellcheck.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/handlers/shellcheck.vim
@@ -13,15 +13,6 @@ function! ale#handlers#shellcheck#GetDialectArgument(buffer) abort
         return l:shell_type
     endif
 
-    " If there's no hashbang, try using Vim's buffer variables.
-    if getbufvar(a:buffer, 'is_bash', 0)
-        return 'bash'
-    elseif getbufvar(a:buffer, 'is_sh', 0)
-        return 'sh'
-    elseif getbufvar(a:buffer, 'is_kornshell', 0)
-        return 'ksh'
-    endif
-
     return ''
 endfunction