diff --git a/Modules/linuxaudiodev.c b/Modules/linuxaudiodev.c
index 37ad5ff..e0f144b 100644
--- a/Modules/linuxaudiodev.c
+++ b/Modules/linuxaudiodev.c
@@ -258,15 +258,6 @@
 	return NULL;
     }
 
-    if (ioctl(self->x_fd, SNDCTL_DSP_SPEED, &rate) == -1) {
-        PyErr_SetFromErrno(LinuxAudioError);
-        return NULL;
-    }
-    if (ioctl(self->x_fd, SNDCTL_DSP_CHANNELS, &nchannels) == -1) {
-        PyErr_SetFromErrno(LinuxAudioError);
-        return NULL;
-    }
-
     for (n = 0; n < n_audio_types; n++)
         if (fmt == audio_types[n].a_fmt)
             break;
@@ -294,6 +285,14 @@
         PyErr_SetFromErrno(LinuxAudioError);
         return NULL;
     }
+    if (ioctl(self->x_fd, SNDCTL_DSP_CHANNELS, &nchannels) == -1) {
+        PyErr_SetFromErrno(LinuxAudioError);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    if (ioctl(self->x_fd, SNDCTL_DSP_SPEED, &rate) == -1) {
+        PyErr_SetFromErrno(LinuxAudioError);
+        return NULL;
+    }
 
     Py_INCREF(Py_None);
     return Py_None;