diff --git a/packaging/rpm/rear.spec b/packaging/rpm/rear.spec
index 6791720f52..100c130dec 100644
--- a/packaging/rpm/rear.spec
+++ b/packaging/rpm/rear.spec
@@ -157,15 +157,15 @@ fi
 %prep
 %setup -q
 
+%check
+%{__make} validate
+
 %build
 
 %install
 %{__rm} -rf %{buildroot}
 %{__make} install DESTDIR="%{buildroot}"
 
-%check
-%{__make} validate
-
 %files
 # defattr: is required for SLES 11 and RHEL/CentOS 5 builds on openSUSE Build Service (#2135)
 %defattr(-, root, root, 0755)