diff --git a/src/util/expandaln.cpp b/src/util/expandaln.cpp
index ebda49dec..cbb767ccd 100644
--- a/src/util/expandaln.cpp
+++ b/src/util/expandaln.cpp
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ int expandaln(int argc, const char **argv, const Command& command, bool returnAl
                             continue;
                         }
                     } else {
-                        size_t cSeqId = cReader->getId(cSeqKey);
                         if (returnAlnRes == false || par.expansionMode == Parameters::EXPAND_RESCORE_BACKTRACE) {
+                            size_t cSeqId = cReader->getId(cSeqKey);
                             cSeq.mapSequence(cSeqId, cSeqKey, cReader->getData(cSeqId, thread_idx), cReader->getSeqLen(cSeqId));
                         }
                         //rescoreResultByBacktrace(resultAc, aSeq, cSeq, subMat, compositionBias, par.gapOpen.values.aminoacid(), par.gapExtend.values.aminoacid());