--- lib/vty.c.orig	Sun Aug 18 15:49:50 2002
+++ lib/vty.c	Thu Nov 20 22:17:46 2003
@@ -1138,13 +1138,16 @@
       break;
     case SE: 
       {
-	char *buffer = (char *)vty->sb_buffer->head->data;
-	int length = vty->sb_buffer->length;
+	char *buffer;
+	int length;
 
-	if (buffer == NULL)
+	if (!vty->iac_sb_in_progress)
 	  return 0;
 
-	if (!vty->iac_sb_in_progress)
+	buffer = (char *)vty->sb_buffer->head->data;
+	length = vty->sb_buffer->length;
+
+	if (buffer == NULL)
 	  return 0;
 
 	if (buffer[0] == '\0')
