diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/core/dtypes.py b/python/cudf/cudf/core/dtypes.py
index 49c931a4218..edd557aad1f 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/core/dtypes.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/core/dtypes.py
@@ -42,7 +42,11 @@ def dtype(arbitrary):
     -------
     dtype: the cuDF-supported dtype that best matches `arbitrary`
     """
-    # first, try interpreting arbitrary as a NumPy dtype that we support:
+    #  first, check if `arbitrary` is one of our extension types:
+    if isinstance(arbitrary, cudf.core.dtypes._BaseDtype):
+        return arbitrary
+
+    # next, try interpreting arbitrary as a NumPy dtype that we support:
     try:
         np_dtype = np.dtype(arbitrary)
         if np_dtype.kind in ("OU"):
@@ -54,10 +58,6 @@ def dtype(arbitrary):
             raise TypeError(f"Unsupported type {np_dtype}")
         return np_dtype
 
-    #  next, check if `arbitrary` is one of our extension types:
-    if isinstance(arbitrary, cudf.core.dtypes._BaseDtype):
-        return arbitrary
-
     # use `pandas_dtype` to try and interpret
     # `arbitrary` as a Pandas extension type.
     #  Return the corresponding NumPy/cuDF type.