diff --git a/src/server.cpp b/src/server.cpp
index 15fb7bbc..5b680328 100644
--- a/src/server.cpp
+++ b/src/server.cpp
@@ -889,10 +889,6 @@ Response InternalServer::handle_content(const RequestContext& request)
     printf("** running handle_content\n");
   }
 
-  std::string content;
-
-  kiwix::Entry entry;
-
   const std::string bookName = get_book_name(request);
   if (bookName.empty())
     return build_homepage(request);
@@ -907,6 +903,8 @@ Response InternalServer::handle_content(const RequestContext& request)
     urlStr = urlStr.substr(1);
   }
 
+  kiwix::Entry entry;
+
   try {
     entry = reader->getEntryFromPath(urlStr);
     if (entry.isRedirect() || urlStr.empty()) {
@@ -928,6 +926,8 @@ Response InternalServer::handle_content(const RequestContext& request)
     printf("mimeType: %s\n", mimeType.c_str());
   }
 
+  std::string content;
+
   if ( is_compressible_mime_type(mimeType) ) {
     zim::Blob raw_content = entry.getBlob();
     content = string(raw_content.data(), raw_content.size());