diff --git a/imagick_class.c b/imagick_class.c
index 9f17d661..35679820 100644
--- a/imagick_class.c
+++ b/imagick_class.c
@@ -14088,8 +14088,6 @@ PHP_METHOD(Imagick, polynomialImage)
 		RETURN_THROWS();
 	}
 
-	terms_double_array = php_imagick_zval_to_double_array(terms, &terms_count TSRMLS_CC);
-
 	intern = Z_IMAGICK_P(getThis());
 	IMAGICK_NOT_EMPTY(intern);
 
@@ -14099,6 +14097,8 @@ PHP_METHOD(Imagick, polynomialImage)
 		RETURN_THROWS();
 	}
 
+	terms_double_array = php_imagick_zval_to_double_array(terms, &terms_count TSRMLS_CC);
+
 	// TODO - sanity check terms_count
 
 	status = MagickPolynomialImage(