diff --git a/liquidprompt b/liquidprompt
index 7834fd5..9e840e0 100755
--- a/liquidprompt
+++ b/liquidprompt
@@ -1381,14 +1381,14 @@ _lp_time()
 
 _lp_set_prompt()
 {
+    # as this get the last returned code, it should be called first
+    LP_ERR="$(_lp_sl $(_lp_return_value $?))"
+
     # Reset IFS to its default value to avoid strange behaviors
     # (in case the user is playing with the value at the prompt)
     local IFS="$(echo -e ' \t')
 "       # space, tab, LF
 
-    # as this get the last returned code, it should be called first
-    LP_ERR="$(_lp_sl $(_lp_return_value $?))"
-
     # execute the old prompt if not on Mac OS X (Mountain) Lion
     case "$LP_OS" in
         Linux|FreeBSD|SunOS) $LP_OLD_PROMPT_COMMAND ;;