diff --git a/compiler/main.v b/compiler/main.v
index 7fd501c3fd..71bf18f00a 100644
--- a/compiler/main.v
+++ b/compiler/main.v
@@ -516,10 +516,10 @@ mut args := ''
 
 fn (c &V) v_files_from_dir(dir string) []string {
 	mut res := []string
-	mut files := os.ls(dir)
 	if !os.file_exists(dir) {
 		panic('$dir doesn\'t exist')
 	}
+	mut files := os.ls(dir)
 	if c.is_verbose {
 		println('v_files_from_dir ("$dir")')
 	}