diff --git a/src/modules/ekf2/ekf2_main.cpp b/src/modules/ekf2/ekf2_main.cpp
index f2ed912901..051b0f8b49 100644
--- a/src/modules/ekf2/ekf2_main.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/ekf2/ekf2_main.cpp
@@ -902,17 +902,17 @@ int ekf2_main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 		ekf2::instance = new Ekf2();
 
+		if (ekf2::instance == nullptr) {
+			PX4_WARN("alloc failed");
+			return 1;
+		}
+
 		if (argc >= 3) {
 			if (!strcmp(argv[2], "--replay")) {
 				ekf2::instance->set_replay_mode(true);
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (ekf2::instance == nullptr) {
-			PX4_WARN("alloc failed");
-			return 1;
-		}
-
 		if (OK != ekf2::instance->start()) {
 			delete ekf2::instance;
 			ekf2::instance = nullptr;