diff --git a/src/rig.c b/src/rig.c
index fe6dd94d5..3ca657694 100644
--- a/src/rig.c
+++ b/src/rig.c
@@ -5081,8 +5081,6 @@ int HAMLIB_API rig_get_ant(RIG *rig, vfo_t vfo, ant_t ant, value_t *option,
 
     ENTERFUNC;
 
-    *ant_tx = *ant_rx = RIG_ANT_UNKNOWN;
-
     if (CHECK_RIG_ARG(rig))
     {
         RETURNFUNC(-RIG_EIO);
@@ -5096,6 +5094,8 @@ int HAMLIB_API rig_get_ant(RIG *rig, vfo_t vfo, ant_t ant, value_t *option,
         RETURNFUNC(-RIG_EINVAL);
     }
 
+    *ant_tx = *ant_rx = RIG_ANT_UNKNOWN;
+
     caps = rig->caps;
 
     if (caps->get_ant == NULL)