diff --git a/src/aof.c b/src/aof.c
index 56a985e727ecf6b83a1789eb5c91ef580525e7c6..9e602ce0178d7b3023fd3b193f6470332fc4c2ad 100644
--- a/src/aof.c
+++ b/src/aof.c
@@ -884,6 +884,9 @@ int rewriteAppendOnlyFile(char *filename) {
 
             expiretime = getExpire(db,&key);
 
+            /* If this key is already expired skip it */
+            if (expiretime != -1 && expiretime < now) continue;
+
             /* Save the key and associated value */
             if (o->type == REDIS_STRING) {
                 /* Emit a SET command */
@@ -906,8 +909,6 @@ int rewriteAppendOnlyFile(char *filename) {
             /* Save the expire time */
             if (expiretime != -1) {
                 char cmd[]="*3\r\n$9\r\nPEXPIREAT\r\n";
-                /* If this key is already expired skip it */
-                if (expiretime < now) continue;
                 if (rioWrite(&aof,cmd,sizeof(cmd)-1) == 0) goto werr;
                 if (rioWriteBulkObject(&aof,&key) == 0) goto werr;
                 if (rioWriteBulkLongLong(&aof,expiretime) == 0) goto werr;