diff --git a/ctdb/server/ctdb_recoverd.c b/ctdb/server/ctdb_recoverd.c
index f07d5d9c4af..de733a99d77 100644
--- a/ctdb/server/ctdb_recoverd.c
+++ b/ctdb/server/ctdb_recoverd.c
@@ -86,13 +86,13 @@ static void ctdb_ban_node(struct ctdb_recoverd *rec, uint32_t pnn, uint32_t ban_
 	struct ctdb_context *ctdb = rec->ctdb;
 	struct ctdb_ban_time bantime;
        
-	DEBUG(DEBUG_NOTICE,("Banning node %u for %u seconds\n", pnn, ban_time));
-
 	if (!ctdb_validate_pnn(ctdb, pnn)) {
 		DEBUG(DEBUG_ERR,("Bad pnn %u in ctdb_ban_node\n", pnn));
 		return;
 	}
 
+	DEBUG(DEBUG_NOTICE,("Banning node %u for %u seconds\n", pnn, ban_time));
+
 	bantime.pnn  = pnn;
 	bantime.time = ban_time;