diff --git a/youtube_dlc/extractor/youtube.py b/youtube_dlc/extractor/youtube.py
index 15ff2905c..b973e5d81 100644
--- a/youtube_dlc/extractor/youtube.py
+++ b/youtube_dlc/extractor/youtube.py
@@ -3181,6 +3181,12 @@ class YoutubeSearchIE(SearchInfoExtractor, YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
             # So we search through all entries till we find them.
             continuation_token = None
             for slr_content in slr_contents:
+                if continuation_token is None:
+                    continuation_token = try_get(
+                        slr_content,
+                        lambda x: x['continuationItemRenderer']['continuationEndpoint']['continuationCommand']['token'],
+                        compat_str)
+
                 isr_contents = try_get(
                     slr_content,
                     lambda x: x['itemSectionRenderer']['contents'],
@@ -3202,12 +3208,6 @@ class YoutubeSearchIE(SearchInfoExtractor, YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
                     if total == n:
                         return
 
-                if continuation_token is None:
-                    continuation_token = try_get(
-                        slr_content,
-                        lambda x: x['continuationItemRenderer']['continuationEndpoint']['continuationCommand']['token'],
-                        compat_str)
-
             if not continuation_token:
                 break
             data['continuation'] = continuation_token