diff --git a/src/timer/windows/SDL_systimer.c b/src/timer/windows/SDL_systimer.c
index afa77c14a..c3b54f5df 100644
--- a/src/timer/windows/SDL_systimer.c
+++ b/src/timer/windows/SDL_systimer.c
@@ -108,15 +108,15 @@ SDL_InitTicks(void)
 Uint32
 SDL_GetTicks(void)
 {
-    if (!ticks_started) {
-        SDL_InitTicks();
-    }
-
     DWORD now;
 #ifndef USE_GETTICKCOUNT
     LARGE_INTEGER hires_now;
 #endif
 
+    if (!ticks_started) {
+        SDL_InitTicks();
+    }
+
 #ifdef USE_GETTICKCOUNT
     now = GetTickCount();
 #else