diff --git a/migration/multifd-nocomp.c b/migration/multifd-nocomp.c
index 55191152f9..2e4aaac285 100644
--- a/migration/multifd-nocomp.c
+++ b/migration/multifd-nocomp.c
@@ -362,6 +362,7 @@ int multifd_ram_flush_and_sync(void)
 bool multifd_send_prepare_common(MultiFDSendParams *p)
 {
     MultiFDPages_t *pages = &p->data->u.ram;
+    multifd_send_prepare_header(p);
     multifd_send_zero_page_detect(p);
 
     if (!pages->normal_num) {
@@ -369,8 +370,6 @@ bool multifd_send_prepare_common(MultiFDSendParams *p)
         return false;
     }
 
-    multifd_send_prepare_header(p);
-
     return true;
 }