diff --git a/core/java/android/preference/PreferenceGroup.java b/core/java/android/preference/PreferenceGroup.java
index 5e84086531450..f17506b98a2b1 100644
--- a/core/java/android/preference/PreferenceGroup.java
+++ b/core/java/android/preference/PreferenceGroup.java
@@ -148,16 +148,15 @@ public boolean addPreference(Preference preference) {
             }
         }
 
-        int insertionIndex = Collections.binarySearch(mPreferenceList, preference);
-        if (insertionIndex < 0) {
-            insertionIndex = insertionIndex * -1 - 1;
-        }
-
         if (!onPrepareAddPreference(preference)) {
             return false;
         }
 
         synchronized(this) {
+            int insertionIndex = Collections.binarySearch(mPreferenceList, preference);
+            if (insertionIndex < 0) {
+                insertionIndex = insertionIndex * -1 - 1;
+            }
             mPreferenceList.add(insertionIndex, preference);
         }