diff --git a/lib/krb5/kuserok.c b/lib/krb5/kuserok.c
index 28af0bcc1..c1155181b 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/kuserok.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/kuserok.c
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ krb5_kuserok (krb5_context context,
     krb5_error_code ret;
     krb5_boolean b;
 
+    pwd = getpwnam (luser);	/* XXX - Should use k_getpwnam? */
+    if (pwd == NULL)
+	return FALSE;
+
     ret = krb5_get_default_realms (context, &realms);
     if (ret)
 	return FALSE;
@@ -78,9 +82,6 @@ krb5_kuserok (krb5_context context,
     }
     krb5_free_host_realm (context, realms);
 
-    pwd = getpwnam (luser);	/* XXX - Should use k_getpwnam? */
-    if (pwd == NULL)
-	return FALSE;
     snprintf (buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/.k5login", pwd->pw_dir);
     f = fopen (buf, "r");
     if (f == NULL)