diff --git a/programs/fileio.c b/programs/fileio.c
index 390a3bbe7..0ac0f70f9 100644
--- a/programs/fileio.c
+++ b/programs/fileio.c
@@ -1236,9 +1236,6 @@ static int FIO_compressFilename_dstFile(FIO_prefs_t* const prefs,
                                         const char* srcFileName,
                                         int compressionLevel)
 {
-    UTIL_time_t const timeStart = UTIL_getTime();
-    clock_t const cpuStart = clock();
-
     int closeDstFile = 0;
     int result;
     stat_t statbuf;
@@ -1262,6 +1259,9 @@ static int FIO_compressFilename_dstFile(FIO_prefs_t* const prefs,
             transfer_permissions = 1;
     }
 
+    UTIL_time_t const timeStart = UTIL_getTime();
+    clock_t const cpuStart = clock();
+
     result = FIO_compressFilename_internal(prefs, ress, dstFileName, srcFileName, compressionLevel);
 
     if (closeDstFile) {