diff --git a/bundle.c b/bundle.c
index 4ef7256aa1..9ebb10a8f7 100644
--- a/bundle.c
+++ b/bundle.c
@@ -627,6 +627,10 @@ int unbundle(struct repository *r, struct bundle_header *header,
 	     enum verify_bundle_flags flags)
 {
 	struct child_process ip = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
+
+	if (verify_bundle(r, header, flags))
+		return -1;
+
 	strvec_pushl(&ip.args, "index-pack", "--fix-thin", "--stdin", NULL);
 
 	/* If there is a filter, then we need to create the promisor pack. */
@@ -638,8 +642,6 @@ int unbundle(struct repository *r, struct bundle_header *header,
 		strvec_clear(extra_index_pack_args);
 	}
 
-	if (verify_bundle(r, header, flags))
-		return -1;
 	ip.in = bundle_fd;
 	ip.no_stdout = 1;
 	ip.git_cmd = 1;