diff --git a/i3lock.c b/i3lock.c
index fafbe80..2d2cc89 100644
--- a/i3lock.c
+++ b/i3lock.c
@@ -129,9 +129,6 @@ static void handle_key_press(xcb_key_press_event_t *event) {
      * keysyms, we remove the numlock flag from the event state */
     event->state &= ~numlockmask;
 
-    if ((input_position + 8) >= sizeof(password))
-        return;
-
     xcb_keysym_t sym = xcb_key_press_lookup_keysym(symbols, event, event->state);
     switch (sym) {
     case XK_Mode_switch:
@@ -157,6 +154,9 @@ static void handle_key_press(xcb_key_press_event_t *event) {
         return;
     }
 
+    if ((input_position + 8) >= sizeof(password))
+        return;
+
 #if 0
     /* FIXME: handle all of these? */
     printf("is_keypad_key = %d\n", xcb_is_keypad_key(sym));