diff --git a/src/netdev.c b/src/netdev.c
index bd4c24dc..5ab2145f 100644
--- a/src/netdev.c
+++ b/src/netdev.c
@@ -3239,6 +3239,10 @@ uint32_t netdev_frame_watch_add(struct netdev *netdev, uint16_t frame_type,
 	bool registered;
 	uint32_t id;
 
+	registered = l_queue_find(netdev->frame_watches.items,
+					netdev_frame_watch_match_prefix,
+					&info);
+
 	fw = l_new(struct netdev_frame_watch, 1);
 	fw->frame_type = frame_type;
 	fw->prefix = l_memdup(prefix, prefix_len);
@@ -3246,10 +3250,6 @@ uint32_t netdev_frame_watch_add(struct netdev *netdev, uint16_t frame_type,
 	id = watchlist_link(&netdev->frame_watches, &fw->super,
 						handler, user_data, NULL);
 
-	registered = l_queue_find(netdev->frame_watches.items,
-					netdev_frame_watch_match_prefix,
-					&info);
-
 	if (registered)
 		return id;