diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/NonconfigurableAttributeMapper.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/NonconfigurableAttributeMapper.java
index 6429a11e9bf437..db4bbdfe0876a5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/NonconfigurableAttributeMapper.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/NonconfigurableAttributeMapper.java
@@ -42,8 +42,9 @@ public static NonconfigurableAttributeMapper of (Rule rule) {
 
   @Override
   public <T> T get(String attributeName, com.google.devtools.build.lib.syntax.Type<T> type) {
+    T attr = super.get(attributeName, type);
     Preconditions.checkState(!getAttributeDefinition(attributeName).isConfigurable(),
         "Attribute '%s' is potentially configurable - not allowed here", attributeName);
-    return super.get(attributeName, type);
+    return attr;
   }
 }