diff --git a/sway/commands/ipc.c b/sway/commands/ipc.c
index e2bca2a691..1d6143afff 100644
--- a/sway/commands/ipc.c
+++ b/sway/commands/ipc.c
@@ -18,13 +18,6 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_ipc(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = check_security_config())) {
 		return error;
 	}
-
-	char *program = NULL;
-
-	if (!(program = resolve_ipc_path(argv[0]))) {
-		return cmd_results_new(
-				CMD_FAILURE, "ipc", "Memory allocation error occured.");
-	}
 	if (config->reading && strcmp("{", argv[1]) != 0) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "ipc",
 				"Expected '{' at start of IPC config definition.");
@@ -34,6 +27,12 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_ipc(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "ipc", "Can only be used in config file.");
 	}
 
+	char *program = NULL;
+
+	if (!(program = resolve_ipc_path(argv[0]))) {
+		return cmd_results_new(
+				CMD_FAILURE, "ipc", "Memory allocation error occured.");
+	}
 	current_policy = alloc_ipc_policy(program);
 	list_add(config->ipc_policies, current_policy);