diff --git a/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/core/ScenarioEngine.java b/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/core/ScenarioEngine.java
index c9b120291..7bff410dd 100644
--- a/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/core/ScenarioEngine.java
+++ b/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/core/ScenarioEngine.java
@@ -676,9 +676,10 @@ private void httpInvokeWithRetries() {
                     throw new RuntimeException(e);
                 }
             }
-            httpInvokeOnce();
+
             Variable v;
             try {
+                httpInvokeOnce();
                 v = evalKarateExpression(requestBuilder.getRetryUntil());
             } catch (Exception e) {
                 logger.warn("retry condition evaluation failed: {}", e.getMessage());