diff --git a/panda/src/pstatclient/pStatClientImpl.cxx b/panda/src/pstatclient/pStatClientImpl.cxx
index dcf0cdfef2..02f1764b81 100644
--- a/panda/src/pstatclient/pStatClientImpl.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pstatclient/pStatClientImpl.cxx
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ client_disconnect() {
  */
 void PStatClientImpl::
 new_frame(int thread_index) {
+  double frame_start = get_real_time();
+
   nassertv(thread_index >= 0 && thread_index < _client->_num_threads);
 
   PStatClient::InternalThread *pthread = _client->get_thread_ptr(thread_index);
@@ -178,7 +180,6 @@ new_frame(int thread_index) {
     return;
   }
 
-  double frame_start = get_real_time();
   int frame_number = -1;
   PStatFrameData frame_data;