diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlxsw/spectrum.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlxsw/spectrum.c
index 149b2cc2b4fd..e0111e0a1a35 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlxsw/spectrum.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlxsw/spectrum.c
@@ -4128,12 +4128,6 @@ static int mlxsw_sp_port_split(struct mlxsw_core *mlxsw_core, u8 local_port,
 		return max_width;
 	}
 
-	if (count != 2 && count != 4) {
-		netdev_err(mlxsw_sp_port->dev, "Port can only be split into 2 or 4 ports\n");
-		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Port can only be split into 2 or 4 ports");
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
 	/* Split port with non-max module width cannot be split. */
 	if (mlxsw_sp_port->mapping.width != max_width) {
 		netdev_err(mlxsw_sp_port->dev, "Port cannot be split further\n");
@@ -4141,6 +4135,12 @@ static int mlxsw_sp_port_split(struct mlxsw_core *mlxsw_core, u8 local_port,
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	if (count != 2 && count != 4) {
+		netdev_err(mlxsw_sp_port->dev, "Port can only be split into 2 or 4 ports\n");
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Port can only be split into 2 or 4 ports");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	/* Make sure we have enough slave (even) ports for the split. */
 	if (count == 2) {
 		offset = local_ports_in_2x;