diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/abilities/praetorian/praetorian_powers.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/abilities/praetorian/praetorian_powers.dm
index ee19a8c9de88..605fe290b468 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/abilities/praetorian/praetorian_powers.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/abilities/praetorian/praetorian_powers.dm
@@ -926,16 +926,16 @@
 		to_chat(X, SPAN_XENODANGER("We cannot retrieve ourself!"))
 		return
 
-	if(X.anchored)
-		to_chat(X, SPAN_XENODANGER("That sister cannot move!"))
-		return
-
 	if(!(A in view(7, X)))
 		to_chat(X, SPAN_XENODANGER("That sister is too far away!"))
 		return
 
 	var/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/targetXeno = A
 
+	if(targetXeno.anchored)
+		to_chat(X, SPAN_XENODANGER("That sister cannot move!"))
+		return
+
 	if(!(targetXeno.resting || targetXeno.stat == UNCONSCIOUS))
 		if(targetXeno.mob_size > MOB_SIZE_BIG)
 			to_chat(X, SPAN_WARNING("[targetXeno] is too big to retrieve while standing up!"))