diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/hilight-text.c b/src/fe-common/core/hilight-text.c
index ffb90a88..7fa970bb 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/hilight-text.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/hilight-text.c
@@ -297,9 +297,9 @@ static void sig_print_text(TEXT_DEST_REC *dest, const char *text,
 
 	nick_match = hilight->nick && (dest->level & (MSGLEVEL_PUBLIC|MSGLEVEL_ACTIONS)) == MSGLEVEL_PUBLIC;
 
+	old_level = dest->level;
 	if (!nick_match || (dest->level & MSGLEVEL_HILIGHT)) {
 		/* update the level / hilight info */
-	        old_level = dest->level;
 		hilight_update_text_dest(dest, hilight);
 	}