diff --git a/legacy/evas/src/lib/canvas/evas_object_textblock.c b/legacy/evas/src/lib/canvas/evas_object_textblock.c
index 305d809f85..20583ec1f8 100644
--- a/legacy/evas/src/lib/canvas/evas_object_textblock.c
+++ b/legacy/evas/src/lib/canvas/evas_object_textblock.c
@@ -4841,10 +4841,11 @@ evas_textblock_cursor_line_char_last(Evas_Textblock_Cursor *cur)
 static Eina_Bool
 _evas_textblock_format_is_visible(const char *s)
 {
-   if (!s) return EINA_FALSE;
    const char *item;
    Eina_Bool is_opener = EINA_TRUE;
 
+   if (!s) return EINA_FALSE;
+
    if (s[0] == '+' || s[0] == '-')
      {
         is_opener = (s[0] == '+') ? EINA_TRUE : EINA_FALSE;