diff --git a/pdcurses/clear.c b/pdcurses/clear.c
index 274d8034..3641ee47 100644
--- a/pdcurses/clear.c
+++ b/pdcurses/clear.c
@@ -84,14 +84,14 @@ int clrtoeol(void)
 
 int wclrtobot(WINDOW *win)
 {
-    int savey = win->_cury;
-    int savex = win->_curx;
-
     PDC_LOG(("wclrtobot() - called\n"));
 
     if (!win)
         return ERR;
 
+    int savey = win->_cury;
+    int savex = win->_curx;
+
     /* should this involve scrolling region somehow ? */
 
     if (win->_cury + 1 < win->_maxy)