diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index 418f53422e..9376beb2df 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -300,6 +300,10 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         if (!actor1.getClass().isMobile(actor1))
             return;
 
+        // Stop here if target is unreachable
+        if (!MWMechanics::canFight(actor1, actor2))
+            return;
+
         // If this is set to true, actor1 will start combat with actor2 if the awareness check at the end of the method returns true
         bool aggressive = false;
 
@@ -375,10 +379,6 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             }
         }
 
-        // Stop here if target is unreachable
-        if (!MWMechanics::canFight(actor1, actor2))
-            return;
-
         // Do aggression check if actor2 is the player or a player follower or escorter
         if (!aggressive)
         {