diff --git a/ascon.c b/ascon.c
index fbb417e7..0b27bb0e 100644
--- a/ascon.c
+++ b/ascon.c
@@ -359,8 +359,8 @@ int AsconStdHandler(Ascon *a) {
     } else {
       if (a->timeout > 0) {
         if (DoubleTime() - a->start > a->timeout) {
-          a->state = AsconTimeout;
           AsconError(a, "read timeout", 0);
+          a->state = AsconTimeout;
         }
       }
     }