diff --git a/basilisk/basilisk_MSG.c b/basilisk/basilisk_MSG.c
index cacf9f0e5..b7541bb96 100755
--- a/basilisk/basilisk_MSG.c
+++ b/basilisk/basilisk_MSG.c
@@ -402,10 +402,13 @@ cJSON *basilisk_channelget(struct supernet_info *myinfo,bits256 srchash,bits256
     jaddbits256(valsobj,"desthash",desthash);
     if ( myinfo->IAMNOTARY != 0 )
         retstr = basilisk_getmessage(myinfo,0,0,0,desthash,valsobj,0);
-    else retstr = _dex_getmessage(myinfo,jprint(valsobj,0));
-    if ( retstr != 0 )
+    else
     {
+        retstr = _dex_getmessage(myinfo,jprint(valsobj,0));
         printf("channel.%u msgid.%u gotmessage.(%d) %s\n",channel,msgid,(int32_t)strlen(retstr),strlen(retstr) < 100 ? retstr : "(too long)");
+    }
+    if ( retstr != 0 )
+    {
         if ( (retarray= cJSON_Parse(retstr)) != 0 )
         {
             if ( is_cJSON_Array(retarray) == 0 )