diff --git a/src/dict.c b/src/dict.c
index 538dd8b..d281957 100644
--- a/src/dict.c
+++ b/src/dict.c
@@ -1457,6 +1457,9 @@
     dict_T	*d;
     int		todo;
 
+    if (rettv_list_alloc(rettv) == FAIL)
+	return;
+
     if (in_vim9script() && check_for_dict_arg(argvars, 0) == FAIL)
 	return;
 
@@ -1466,8 +1469,6 @@
 	return;
     }
 
-    if (rettv_list_alloc(rettv) == FAIL)
-	return;
     if ((d = argvars[0].vval.v_dict) == NULL)
 	// empty dict behaves like an empty dict
 	return;