diff --git a/src/dslave.c b/src/dslave.c
index 35c3d34..a5e915c 100644
--- a/src/dslave.c
+++ b/src/dslave.c
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@ static void handle_op_message(uint32_t in_type, struct strbuf *in, struct strbuf
     struct op *op = get_local_op(in_type);
     char *envp[16];
 
-    debug("running op: %s", op->name);
-
-    if (!op->name)
+    if (!op)
         fatal("operation %x does not exist", in_type);
 
+    debug("running op: %s", op->name);
+
     /* TEMPORARY */
     if (!client_username())
         fatal("unathenticated");