diff --git a/src/tools.c b/src/tools.c
index fbb4c4781..73335d21e 100644
--- a/src/tools.c
+++ b/src/tools.c
@@ -6504,13 +6504,13 @@ uint32_t parse_line(char *in, char *out, size_t *outlen, char **args, int *nbarg
 		goto leave;
 	}
  leave:
-	*nbargs = arg;
-	*outlen = outpos;
-
 	/* make sure empty lines are terminated */
 	if (!arg)
 		EMIT_CHAR(0);
 
+	*nbargs = arg;
+	*outlen = outpos;
+
 	/* empty all trailing args by making them point to the trailing zero,
 	 * at least the last one in any case.
 	 */