diff --git a/repos/base/src/lib/base/signal_common.cc b/repos/base/src/lib/base/signal_common.cc
index 07e8f4d2ba..8486852e2b 100644
--- a/repos/base/src/lib/base/signal_common.cc
+++ b/repos/base/src/lib/base/signal_common.cc
@@ -120,12 +120,12 @@ Signal Signal_receiver::wait_for_signal()
 {
 	for (;;) {
 
-		/* block until the receiver has received a signal */
-		block_for_signal();
-
 		try {
 			return pending_signal();
 		} catch (Signal_not_pending) { }
+
+		/* block until the receiver has received a signal */
+		block_for_signal();
 	}
 }