diff --git a/src/tool_operate.c b/src/tool_operate.c
index 9f14b3e586..eb29dcd365 100644
--- a/src/tool_operate.c
+++ b/src/tool_operate.c
@@ -379,12 +379,12 @@ static CURLcode post_per_transfer(struct GlobalConfig *global,
   struct OperationConfig *config = per->config;
   int rc;
 
-  if(!curl || !config)
-    return result;
-
   *retryp = FALSE;
   *delay = 0; /* for no retry, keep it zero */
 
+  if(!curl || !config)
+    return result;
+
   if(per->infdopen)
     close(per->infd);