diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index 97b70b8fefd..5508478862f 100644
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -945,18 +945,17 @@ namespace {
       if (move == excludedMove)
           continue;
 
+      // Check for legality
+      if (!pos.legal(move))
+          continue;
+
       // At root obey the "searchmoves" option and skip moves not listed in Root
-      // Move List. As a consequence, any illegal move is also skipped. In MultiPV
-      // mode we also skip PV moves that have been already searched and those
-      // of lower "TB rank" if we are in a TB root position.
+      // Move List. In MultiPV mode we also skip PV moves that have been already
+      // searched and those of lower "TB rank" if we are in a TB root position.
       if (rootNode && !std::count(thisThread->rootMoves.begin() + thisThread->pvIdx,
                                   thisThread->rootMoves.begin() + thisThread->pvLast, move))
           continue;
 
-      // Check for legality
-      if (!rootNode && !pos.legal(move))
-          continue;
-
       ss->moveCount = ++moveCount;
 
       if (rootNode && thisThread == Threads.main() && Time.elapsed() > 3000)