diff --git a/lisp/startup.el b/lisp/startup.el
index 523dc5c6b3c..d7f7f55b5cb 100644
--- a/lisp/startup.el
+++ b/lisp/startup.el
@@ -750,12 +750,12 @@ Type \\[describe-distribution] for information on getting the latest version."))
 		       (setq file (expand-file-name file)))
 		   (load file nil t)))
 		((string-equal argi "-insert")
-		 (or (stringp (car command-line-args-left))
-		     (error "File name omitted from `-insert' option"))
 		 (if argval
 		     (setq tem argval)
 		   (setq tem (car command-line-args-left)
 			 command-line-args-left (cdr command-line-args-left)))
+		 (or (stringp tem)
+		     (error "File name omitted from `-insert' option"))
 		 (insert-file-contents tem))
 		((string-equal argi "-kill")
 		 (kill-emacs t))