diff --git a/src/backends/meta-orientation-manager.c b/src/backends/meta-orientation-manager.c
index 4f57248eb..9bf9e41da 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-orientation-manager.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-orientation-manager.c
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ read_iio_proxy (MetaOrientationManager *self)
 static void
 sync_state (MetaOrientationManager *self)
 {
+  if (g_settings_get_boolean (self->settings, ORIENTATION_LOCK_KEY))
+    return;
+
   read_iio_proxy (self);
 
   if (self->prev_orientation == self->curr_orientation)
@@ -110,9 +113,6 @@ sync_state (MetaOrientationManager *self)
   if (self->curr_orientation == META_ORIENTATION_UNDEFINED)
     return;
 
-  if (g_settings_get_boolean (self->settings, ORIENTATION_LOCK_KEY))
-    return;
-
   g_signal_emit (self, signals[ORIENTATION_CHANGED], 0);
 }