diff --git a/backend/code49.c b/backend/code49.c
index 2a8784ef..49347979 100644
--- a/backend/code49.c
+++ b/backend/code49.c
@@ -208,10 +208,10 @@ int code_49(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned char source[], const int length
     }
 
     if (M != 0) {
+        codeword_count--;
         for (i = 0; i < codeword_count; i++) {
             codewords[i] = codewords[i + 1];
         }
-        codeword_count--;
     }
 
     if (codeword_count > 49) {
@@ -335,4 +335,4 @@ int code_49(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned char source[], const int length
     symbol->border_width = 2;
 
     return 0;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}