diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c b/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c
index 8df184f..80a7665 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c
@@ -1610,13 +1610,13 @@
 	if (!writelen)
 		return 0;
 
+	chipnr = (int)(to >> chip->chip_shift);
+	chip->select_chip(mtd, chipnr);
+
 	/* Check, if it is write protected */
 	if (nand_check_wp(mtd))
 		return -EIO;
 
-	chipnr = (int)(to >> chip->chip_shift);
-	chip->select_chip(mtd, chipnr);
-
 	realpage = (int)(to >> chip->page_shift);
 	page = realpage & chip->pagemask;
 	blockmask = (1 << (chip->phys_erase_shift - chip->page_shift)) - 1;