diff --git a/src/fvterm.cpp b/src/fvterm.cpp
index bf8626de..67142d1a 100644
--- a/src/fvterm.cpp
+++ b/src/fvterm.cpp
@@ -1382,6 +1382,9 @@ void FVTerm::updateVTerm (term_area* area)
 {
   // Update area data on VTerm
 
+  if ( ! area || ! area->visible )
+    return;
+
   int ax  = area->offset_left
     , ay  = area->offset_top
     , aw  = area->width
@@ -1391,9 +1394,6 @@ void FVTerm::updateVTerm (term_area* area)
     , ol  = 0  // Outside left
     , y_end;
 
-  if ( ! area || ! area->visible )
-    return;
-
   // Call the processing handler methods
   callPreprocessingHandler(area);