diff --git a/channels/chan_dahdi.c b/channels/chan_dahdi.c
index e59f34cc83..f9de309192 100644
--- a/channels/chan_dahdi.c
+++ b/channels/chan_dahdi.c
@@ -12062,13 +12062,14 @@ static struct dahdi_pvt *mkintf(int channel, const struct dahdi_chan_conf *conf,
 	}
 
 	if (tmp) {
+		int chan_sig = conf->chan.sig;
+
 		/* If there are variables in tmp before it is updated to match the new config, clear them */
 		if (reloading && tmp->vars) {
 			ast_variables_destroy(tmp->vars);
 			tmp->vars = NULL;
 		}
 
-		int chan_sig = conf->chan.sig;
 
 		if (!here) {
 			/* Can only get here if this is a new channel interface being created. */