diff --git a/appl/rcp/rcp.c b/appl/rcp/rcp.c
index a6e44b85d..30c88b600 100644
--- a/appl/rcp/rcp.c
+++ b/appl/rcp/rcp.c
@@ -684,11 +684,11 @@ run_err(const char *fmt, ...)
 {
 	static FILE *fp;
 	va_list ap;
-	va_start(ap, fmt);
 
 	++errs;
 	if (fp == NULL && !(fp = fdopen(remout, "w")))
 		return;
+	va_start(ap, fmt);
 	fprintf(fp, "%c", 0x01);
 	fprintf(fp, "rcp: ");
 	vfprintf(fp, fmt, ap);