diff --git a/controller_interface/src/controller_interface_base.cpp b/controller_interface/src/controller_interface_base.cpp
index 2311db32e0..348e03fcf3 100644
--- a/controller_interface/src/controller_interface_base.cpp
+++ b/controller_interface/src/controller_interface_base.cpp
@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@ return_type ControllerInterfaceBase::init(
   const std::string & controller_name, const std::string & urdf, unsigned int cm_update_rate,
   const std::string & namespace_)
 {
+  urdf_ = urdf;
   node_ = std::make_shared<rclcpp_lifecycle::LifecycleNode>(
     controller_name, namespace_, get_node_options(),
     false);  // disable LifecycleNode service interfaces
-  urdf_ = urdf;
 
   try
   {