diff --git a/include/samurai/mr/adapt.hpp b/include/samurai/mr/adapt.hpp
index 8cbe5b880..8d832e38e 100644
--- a/include/samurai/mr/adapt.hpp
+++ b/include/samurai/mr/adapt.hpp
@@ -174,11 +174,11 @@ namespace samurai
         }
         update_ghost_mr(m_fields);
 
+        auto mesh_old = mesh;
         old_fields_t old_fields;
         if constexpr (keep_previous)
         {
-            auto mesh_old = mesh;
-            old_fields    = detail::copy_fields(mesh_old, m_fields);
+            old_fields = detail::copy_fields(mesh_old, m_fields);
         }
 
         for (std::size_t i = 0; i < max_level - min_level; ++i)