diff --git a/jquery.validate.js b/jquery.validate.js
index 5af3b475d..4f4a89045 100644
--- a/jquery.validate.js
+++ b/jquery.validate.js
@@ -953,8 +953,8 @@ $.extend($.validator, {
 						validator.showErrors();
 					} else {
 						var errors = {};
-						var message = (previous.message = response || validator.defaultMessage( element, "remote" ));
-						errors[element.name] = $.isFunction(message) ? message(value) : message;
+						var message = response || validator.defaultMessage( element, "remote" );
+						errors[element.name] = previous.message = $.isFunction(message) ? message(value) : message;
 						validator.showErrors(errors);
 					}
 					previous.valid = valid;