diff --git a/toolsrc/src/commands_remove.cpp b/toolsrc/src/commands_remove.cpp
index 92ab56a282..1daacb9445 100644
--- a/toolsrc/src/commands_remove.cpp
+++ b/toolsrc/src/commands_remove.cpp
@@ -167,15 +167,13 @@ namespace vcpkg::Commands::Remove
     {
         static const std::string example = Commands::Help::create_example_string("remove zlib zlib:x64-windows curl boost");
         args.check_min_arg_count(1, example);
-
-        const std::unordered_set<std::string> options = args.check_and_get_optional_command_arguments({OPTION_PURGE, OPTION_RECURSE});
-        auto status_db = database_load_check(paths);
-
         std::vector<package_spec> specs = Input::check_and_get_package_specs(args.command_arguments, default_target_triplet, example);
         Input::check_triplets(specs, paths);
+        const std::unordered_set<std::string> options = args.check_and_get_optional_command_arguments({ OPTION_PURGE, OPTION_RECURSE });
         const bool alsoRemoveFolderFromPackages = options.find(OPTION_PURGE) != options.end();
         const bool isRecursive = options.find(OPTION_RECURSE) != options.end();
 
+        auto status_db = database_load_check(paths);
         const std::vector<package_spec_with_remove_plan> remove_plan = Dependencies::create_remove_plan(specs, status_db);
         Checks::check_exit(!remove_plan.empty(), "Remove plan cannot be empty");