diff --git a/Src/hist.c b/Src/hist.c
index 6ce3651dc..4dacdd337 100644
--- a/Src/hist.c
+++ b/Src/hist.c
@@ -971,14 +971,14 @@ prepnexthistent(void)
 static int
 should_ignore_line(Eprog prog)
 {
-    if (!prog)
-	return 0;
-
     if (isset(HISTIGNORESPACE)) {
 	if (*chline == ' ' || aliasspaceflag)
 	    return 1;
     }
 
+    if (!prog)
+	return 0;
+
     if (isset(HISTNOFUNCTIONS)) {
 	Wordcode pc = prog->prog;
 	wordcode code = *pc;