diff --git a/src/uml/uml_driver.c b/src/uml/uml_driver.c
index fcd468243e596da8e17e22379cd58d5bb2301e3f..d1c71d8521797385847f04d0cd16641dbc971940 100644
--- a/src/uml/uml_driver.c
+++ b/src/uml/uml_driver.c
@@ -1193,6 +1193,13 @@ static virDrvOpenStatus umlConnectOpen(virConnectPtr conn,
 {
     virCheckFlags(VIR_CONNECT_RO, VIR_DRV_OPEN_ERROR);
 
+    /* URI was good, but driver isn't active */
+    if (uml_driver == NULL) {
+        virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR, "%s",
+                       _("uml state driver is not active"));
+        return VIR_DRV_OPEN_ERROR;
+    }
+
     /* Check path and tell them correct path if they made a mistake */
     if (uml_driver->privileged) {
         if (STRNEQ(conn->uri->path, "/system") &&
@@ -1211,13 +1218,6 @@ static virDrvOpenStatus umlConnectOpen(virConnectPtr conn,
         }
     }
 
-    /* URI was good, but driver isn't active */
-    if (uml_driver == NULL) {
-        virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR, "%s",
-                       _("uml state driver is not active"));
-        return VIR_DRV_OPEN_ERROR;
-    }
-
     if (virConnectOpenEnsureACL(conn) < 0)
         return VIR_DRV_OPEN_ERROR;