diff --git a/ref-test/app/quiz/views.py b/ref-test/app/quiz/views.py
index d9885fe..e87c2b1 100644
--- a/ref-test/app/quiz/views.py
+++ b/ref-test/app/quiz/views.py
@@ -59,11 +59,11 @@ def _start():
             except Exception as exception:
                 write('system.log', f'Database error when processing request \'{request.url}\': {exception}')
                 return abort(500)
+            if not test:  return jsonify({'error': 'The exam code you entered is invalid.'}), 400
             entry.test = test
             entry.dataset = test.dataset
             entry.user_code = request.form.get('user_code')
             entry.user_code = None if entry.user_code == '' else entry.user_code.lower()
-            if not test:  return jsonify({'error': 'The exam code you entered is invalid.'}), 400
             if entry.user_code and entry.user_code not in test.adjustments: return jsonify({'error': f'The user code you entered is not valid.'}), 400
             if test.end_date < datetime.now(): return jsonify({'error': f'The exam code you entered expired on {test["expiry_date"].strftime("%d %b %Y %H:%M")}.'}), 400
             if test.start_date > datetime.now(): return jsonify({'error': f'The exam has not yet opened. Your exam code will be valid from {test["start_date"].strftime("%d %b %Y %H:%M")}.'}), 400