diff --git a/src/lib/commands/xdump.c b/src/lib/commands/xdump.c
index 2174f85f..2e289e5b 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/xdump.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/xdump.c
@@ -251,11 +251,11 @@ xdmeta(int type)
     struct castr *ca = ef_cadef(type);
     int i;
 
-    xdhdr(ef_nameof(type), mdchr_ca, 1);
-
     if (!ca)
 	return RET_SYN;
 
+    xdhdr(ef_nameof(type), mdchr_ca, 1);
+
     for (i = 0; ca[i].ca_name; i++) {
 	xdflds(mdchr_ca, &ca[i]);
 	pr("\n");