diff --git a/get_url b/get_url
index f557b29ab91..cb848f8683a 100755
--- a/get_url
+++ b/get_url
@@ -145,11 +145,10 @@ def main():
     thirsty = module.boolean(module.params['thirsty'])
 
     if not thirsty:
-        if os.path.exists(dest):
-            module.exit_json(msg="file already exists", changed=False)
         if os.path.isdir(dest):
             module.fail_json(msg="non-thirsty mode needs a filename for a destination, not a directory")
-
+        if os.path.exists(dest):
+            module.exit_json(msg="file already exists", changed=False)
 
     # download to tmpsrc
     tmpsrc, info = url_get(module, url, dest)