diff --git a/usr.sbin/watch/watch.c b/usr.sbin/watch/watch.c
index e69534de55c..eecf0d32db2 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/watch/watch.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/watch/watch.c
@@ -110,7 +110,6 @@ set_tty(void)
 {
 	struct termios	ntty;
 
-	tcgetattr(std_in, &otty);
 	ntty = otty;
 	ntty.c_lflag &= ~ICANON;	/* disable canonical operation */
 	ntty.c_lflag &= ~ECHO;
@@ -324,6 +323,8 @@ main(int ac, char *av[])
 			usage();
 		}
 
+	tcgetattr(std_in, &otty);
+
 	if (modfind("snp") == -1)
 		if (kldload("snp") == -1 || modfind("snp") == -1)
 			warn("snp module not available");