diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/build.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/build.py
index 310b5c0511..fcf0149178 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/build.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/build.py
@@ -193,12 +193,6 @@ def exec_func(func, d, dirs = None, pythonexception=False):
     except:
         oldcwd = None
 
-    body = d.getVar(func, False)
-    if not body:
-        if body is None:
-            logger.warning("Function %s doesn't exist", func)
-        return
-
     flags = d.getVarFlags(func)
     cleandirs = flags.get('cleandirs')
     if cleandirs:
@@ -217,6 +211,13 @@ def exec_func(func, d, dirs = None, pythonexception=False):
         adir = dirs[-1]
     else:
         adir = None
+
+    body = d.getVar(func, False)
+    if not body:
+        if body is None:
+            logger.warning("Function %s doesn't exist", func)
+        return
+
     ispython = flags.get('python')
 
     lockflag = flags.get('lockfiles')