diff --git a/src/backend.c b/src/backend.c
index eab4ea6a1..1791a38e6 100644
--- a/src/backend.c
+++ b/src/backend.c
@@ -1869,6 +1869,9 @@ skip_reuse:
 			srv_conn->src = bind_addr;
 			bind_addr = NULL;
 
+			/* copy the target address into the connection */
+			*srv_conn->dst = *s->scb->dst;
+
 			/* mark? */
 			if (s->flags & SF_BC_MARK) {
 				srv_conn->mark = s->bc_mark;
@@ -1893,10 +1896,6 @@ skip_reuse:
 	if (!srv_conn)
 		return SF_ERR_RESOURCE;
 
-	/* copy the target address into the connection */
-	if (s->scb->dst)
-		*srv_conn->dst = *s->scb->dst;
-
 	/* Copy network namespace from client connection */
 	srv_conn->proxy_netns = cli_conn ? cli_conn->proxy_netns : NULL;