diff --git a/i3bar/src/xcb.c b/i3bar/src/xcb.c
index 326ca2ad..5361f411 100644
--- a/i3bar/src/xcb.c
+++ b/i3bar/src/xcb.c
@@ -552,12 +552,13 @@ void init_xcb(char *fontname) {
     font_info = xcb_query_font_reply(xcb_connection,
                                      query_font_cookie,
                                      NULL);
-    font_height = font_info->font_ascent + font_info->font_descent;
 
     if (xcb_request_failed(open_font_cookie, "Could not open font")) {
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
+    font_height = font_info->font_ascent + font_info->font_descent;
+
     if (xcb_query_font_char_infos_length(font_info) == 0) {
         font_table = NULL;
     } else {