diff --git a/core/sm_stringutil.cpp b/core/sm_stringutil.cpp
index 4e425168..069cac25 100644
--- a/core/sm_stringutil.cpp
+++ b/core/sm_stringutil.cpp
@@ -94,8 +94,6 @@ try_serverlang:
 		goto error_out;
 	}
 
-	max_params = pTrans.fmt_count;
-
 	if (!TryTranslation(pl, key, langid, langcount, &pTrans))
 	{
 		if (target != LANG_SERVER)
@@ -112,6 +110,8 @@ try_serverlang:
 		}
 	}
 
+	max_params = pTrans.fmt_count;
+
 	for (size_t i=0; i<max_params; i++)
 	{
 		pCtx->LocalToPhysAddr(params[*arg], reinterpret_cast<cell_t **>(&new_params[i]));