diff --git a/src/ChannelCommands.py b/src/ChannelCommands.py
index a79d09ee7..47b066724 100755
--- a/src/ChannelCommands.py
+++ b/src/ChannelCommands.py
@@ -271,8 +271,8 @@ class ChannelCommands(callbacks.Privmsg):
         not {op, halfop, voice} capabilities to be the value you give.
         """
         v = privmsgs.getArgs(args)
-        c = ircdb.channels.getChannel(channel)
         v = v.capitalize()
+        c = ircdb.channels.getChannel(channel)
         if v == 'True':
             c.setDefaultCapability(True)
         elif v == 'False':