diff --git a/up.go b/up.go
index 9156375..5eaa9a6 100644
--- a/up.go
+++ b/up.go
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ func RunPostUp(conf *DsnetConfig) {
 // CreateLink sets up the WG interface and link with the correct
 // address
 func CreateLink(conf *DsnetConfig) {
+	if len(conf.IP) == 0 && len(conf.IP6) == 0 {
+		ExitFail("No IPv4 or IPv6 network defined in config")
+	}
+
 	linkAttrs := netlink.NewLinkAttrs()
 	linkAttrs.Name = conf.InterfaceName
 
@@ -33,10 +37,6 @@ func CreateLink(conf *DsnetConfig) {
 		ExitFail("Could not add interface '%s' (%v)", conf.InterfaceName, err)
 	}
 
-	if len(conf.IP) == 0 && len(conf.IP6) == 0 {
-		ExitFail("No IPv4 or IPv6 network defined in config")
-	}
-
 	if len(conf.IP) != 0 {
 		addr := &netlink.Addr{
 			IPNet: &net.IPNet{