diff --git a/doop.c b/doop.c
index 030782b0428c..0e2cfe19e6df 100644
--- a/doop.c
+++ b/doop.c
@@ -665,6 +665,8 @@ Magic and tainting are handled.
 void
 Perl_do_join(pTHX_ SV *sv, SV *delim, SV **mark, SV **sp)
 {
+    PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_DO_JOIN;
+
     SV ** const oldmark = mark;
     SSize_t items = sp - mark;
     STRLEN len;
@@ -673,8 +675,6 @@ Perl_do_join(pTHX_ SV *sv, SV *delim, SV **mark, SV **sp)
     char delim_buf[JOIN_DELIM_BUFSIZE];
     bool delim_do_utf8 = DO_UTF8(delim);
 
-    PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_DO_JOIN;
-
     if (items >= 2) {
         /* Make a copy of the delim, since G or A magic may modify the delim SV.
            Use a local buffer if possible to avoid the cost of allocation and