diff --git a/Source/cmIfCommand.cxx b/Source/cmIfCommand.cxx
index 12d156c0b..f5bd6cc13 100644
--- a/Source/cmIfCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmIfCommand.cxx
@@ -384,8 +384,8 @@ bool cmIfCommand::IsTrue(const std::vector<std::string> &args,
           }
         if (regEntry.find(def))
           {
-          *arg = "1";
           cmStringCommand::StoreMatches(makefile, regEntry);
+          *arg = "1";
           }
         else
           {