diff --git a/commit-graph.c b/commit-graph.c
index 9b02d2c426..baeaf0d1bf 100644
--- a/commit-graph.c
+++ b/commit-graph.c
@@ -468,14 +468,14 @@ static int prepare_commit_graph(struct repository *r)
 {
 	struct object_directory *odb;
 
-	if (git_env_bool(GIT_TEST_COMMIT_GRAPH_DIE_ON_LOAD, 0))
-		die("dying as requested by the '%s' variable on commit-graph load!",
-		    GIT_TEST_COMMIT_GRAPH_DIE_ON_LOAD);
-
 	if (r->objects->commit_graph_attempted)
 		return !!r->objects->commit_graph;
 	r->objects->commit_graph_attempted = 1;
 
+	if (git_env_bool(GIT_TEST_COMMIT_GRAPH_DIE_ON_LOAD, 0))
+		die("dying as requested by the '%s' variable on commit-graph load!",
+		    GIT_TEST_COMMIT_GRAPH_DIE_ON_LOAD);
+
 	prepare_repo_settings(r);
 
 	if (!git_env_bool(GIT_TEST_COMMIT_GRAPH, 0) &&