diff --git a/libcli/smb/smbXcli_base.c b/libcli/smb/smbXcli_base.c
index 8a41824ef96..f69a6a79fcf 100644
--- a/libcli/smb/smbXcli_base.c
+++ b/libcli/smb/smbXcli_base.c
@@ -2632,7 +2632,6 @@ skip_credits:
 			}
 			SIVAL(state->smb2.hdr, SMB2_HDR_NEXT_COMMAND, reqlen);
 		}
-		nbt_len += reqlen;
 
 		if (signing_key) {
 			NTSTATUS status;
@@ -2645,6 +2644,8 @@ skip_credits:
 			}
 		}
 
+		nbt_len += reqlen;
+
 		ret = smbXcli_req_set_pending(reqs[i]);
 		if (!ret) {
 			return NT_STATUS_NO_MEMORY;