diff --git a/networking/arping.c b/networking/arping.c
index a4421edcb..dbfd75ef5 100644
--- a/networking/arping.c
+++ b/networking/arping.c
@@ -284,7 +284,6 @@ int arping_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 	// Need to remove SUID_NEVER from applets.h for this to work
 	//xsetuid(getuid());
 
-	err_str = xasprintf("interface %s %%s", device);
 	{
 		unsigned opt;
 		char *str_timeout;
@@ -302,7 +301,7 @@ int arping_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	target = argv[optind];
-
+	err_str = xasprintf("interface %s %%s", device);
 	xfunc_error_retval = 2;
 
 	{