diff --git a/src/core/ngx_conf_file.c b/src/core/ngx_conf_file.c
index ba454dea8..e92cd33c9 100644
--- a/src/core/ngx_conf_file.c
+++ b/src/core/ngx_conf_file.c
@@ -656,13 +656,14 @@ ngx_conf_read_token(ngx_conf_t *cf)
         }
 
         if (last_space) {
-            if (ch == ' ' || ch == '\t' || ch == CR || ch == LF) {
-                continue;
-            }
 
             start = b->pos - 1;
             start_line = cf->conf_file->line;
 
+            if (ch == ' ' || ch == '\t' || ch == CR || ch == LF) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
             switch (ch) {
 
             case ';':