diff --git a/src/run-js-test.c b/src/run-js-test.c
index c1c933fc0..3f7c91eba 100644
--- a/src/run-js-test.c
+++ b/src/run-js-test.c
@@ -64,6 +64,12 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   g_irepository_prepend_search_path (MUTTER_TYPELIB_DIR);
   g_irepository_prepend_search_path (SHELL_TYPELIB_DIR);
 
+  if (argc < 2)
+    {
+      g_printerr ("Missing filename\n");
+      exit (1);
+    }
+
   /* prepare command line arguments */
   if (!gjs_context_define_string_array (js_context, "ARGV",
                                         argc - 2, (const char**)argv + 2,
@@ -73,12 +79,6 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
       exit (1);
     }
 
-  if (argc < 2)
-    {
-      g_printerr ("Missing filename\n");
-      exit (1);
-    }
-
   filename = argv[1];
   title = g_filename_display_basename (filename);
   g_set_prgname (title);