diff --git a/src/if_perl.xs b/src/if_perl.xs
index 926adce..1ef0eb4 100644
--- a/src/if_perl.xs
+++ b/src/if_perl.xs
@@ -720,8 +720,9 @@
 #ifdef HAVE_SANDBOX
     if (sandbox)
     {
+	safe = perl_get_sv( "VIM::safe", FALSE );
 # ifndef MAKE_TEST  /* avoid a warning for unreachable code */
-	if ((safe = perl_get_sv( "VIM::safe", FALSE )) == NULL || !SvTRUE(safe))
+	if (safe == NULL || !SvTRUE(safe))
 	    EMSG(_("E299: Perl evaluation forbidden in sandbox without the Safe module"));
 	else
 # endif