diff --git a/core/protocol.c b/core/protocol.c
index d69cd7dc..c3ab7012 100644
--- a/core/protocol.c
+++ b/core/protocol.c
@@ -28,13 +28,6 @@ ssize_t send_udp_message(uint8_t modifier1, uint8_t modifier2, char *host, char
 
 	struct uwsgi_header *uh;
 
-	if (message) {
-		uh = (struct uwsgi_header *) message;
-	}
-	else {
-		uh = (struct uwsgi_header *) uwsgi_malloc(4);
-	}
-
 	udp_port = strchr(host, ':');
 	if (udp_port) {
 		udp_port[0] = 0;
@@ -64,6 +57,13 @@ ssize_t send_udp_message(uint8_t modifier1, uint8_t modifier2, char *host, char
 
 	}
 
+	if (message) {
+		uh = (struct uwsgi_header *) message;
+	}
+	else {
+		uh = (struct uwsgi_header *) uwsgi_malloc(4);
+	}
+
 	uh->modifier1 = modifier1;
 #ifdef __BIG_ENDIAN__
 	uh->pktsize = uwsgi_swap16(message_size);