diff --git a/sys/dev/mps/mps.c b/sys/dev/mps/mps.c
index 1357da8..479d83c 100644
--- a/sys/dev/mps/mps.c
+++ b/sys/dev/mps/mps.c
@@ -1302,8 +1302,8 @@ mps_alloc_requests(struct mps_softc *sc)
 			else
 				mps_free_command(sc, cm);
 		else {
+			sc->num_reqs = i;
 			panic("failed to allocate command %d\n", i);
-			sc->num_reqs = i;
 			break;
 		}
 	}