diff --git a/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc b/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc
index 94e333a33..015cd2be7 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc
@@ -501,14 +501,14 @@ function _interfaces_gre_configure($gre)
         $family = 'inet6';
     }
 
-    $remote_addr = $gre['remote-addr'] . (strpos($local_addr, '%') === false ? '' : '%' . explode('%', $local_addr)[1]);
-
     /* ensured device is there, but do not configure unless system is ready */
     if (empty($local_addr)) {
         log_msg("Device {$gre['greif']} missing required local address, skipping now.");
         return null;
     }
 
+    $remote_addr = $gre['remote-addr'] . (strpos($local_addr, '%') === false ? '' : '%' . explode('%', $local_addr)[1]);
+
     mwexecf('/sbin/ifconfig %s %s tunnel %s %s', [$gre['greif'], $family, $local_addr, $remote_addr]);
 
     if (is_ipaddrv6($gre['tunnel-local-addr']) || is_ipaddrv6($gre['tunnel-remote-addr'])) {