diff --git a/ip/ipfou.c b/ip/ipfou.c
index 9f091121..00dbe150 100644
--- a/ip/ipfou.c
+++ b/ip/ipfou.c
@@ -136,19 +136,19 @@ static int do_del(int argc, char **argv)
 
 int do_ipfou(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	if (genl_init_handle(&genl_rth, FOU_GENL_NAME, &genl_family))
-		exit(1);
-
 	if (argc < 1)
 		usage();
 
+	if (matches(*argv, "help") == 0)
+		usage();
+
+	if (genl_init_handle(&genl_rth, FOU_GENL_NAME, &genl_family))
+		exit(1);
+
 	if (matches(*argv, "add") == 0)
 		return do_add(argc-1, argv+1);
 	if (matches(*argv, "delete") == 0)
 		return do_del(argc-1, argv+1);
-	if (matches(*argv, "help") == 0)
-		usage();
-
 	fprintf(stderr, "Command \"%s\" is unknown, try \"ip fou help\".\n", *argv);
 	exit(-1);
 }