diff --git a/src/basic/log.c b/src/basic/log.c
index c5e16d669b..2f5353c739 100644
--- a/src/basic/log.c
+++ b/src/basic/log.c
@@ -1341,18 +1341,19 @@ int log_syntax_internal(
                 const char *func,
                 const char *format, ...) {
 
+        PROTECT_ERRNO;
+
         if (log_syntax_callback)
                 log_syntax_callback(unit, level, log_syntax_callback_userdata);
 
-        PROTECT_ERRNO;
-        char buffer[LINE_MAX];
-        va_list ap;
-        const char *unit_fmt = NULL;
-
         if (_likely_(LOG_PRI(level) > log_max_level) ||
             log_target == LOG_TARGET_NULL)
                 return -ERRNO_VALUE(error);
 
+        char buffer[LINE_MAX];
+        va_list ap;
+        const char *unit_fmt = NULL;
+
         errno = ERRNO_VALUE(error);
 
         va_start(ap, format);