diff --git a/tltorch/factorized_conv/_tucker_conv.py b/tltorch/factorized_conv/_tucker_conv.py
index 9891d12..386f547 100644
--- a/tltorch/factorized_conv/_tucker_conv.py
+++ b/tltorch/factorized_conv/_tucker_conv.py
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ class TuckerConv(BaseFactorizedConv):
     def __init__(self, in_channels, out_channels, kernel_size, rank, modes_fixed_rank=None, order=None,
                  implementation='reconstructed', stride=1, padding=0, dilation=1, bias=False):
         super().__init__(in_channels, out_channels, kernel_size, rank, order=order, padding=padding, stride=stride, bias=bias)
-        self.rank = validate_tucker_rank(self.kernel_shape, rank=self.rank, fixed_modes=modes_fixed_rank)
 
         if modes_fixed_rank is None:
             self.modes_fixed_rank = None
@@ -85,6 +84,8 @@ def __init__(self, in_channels, out_channels, kernel_size, rank, modes_fixed_ran
         else:
             self.modes_fixed_rank = modes_fixed_rank
 
+        self.rank = validate_tucker_rank(self.kernel_shape, rank=self.rank, fixed_modes=self.modes_fixed_rank)
+
         self.core = nn.Parameter(torch.Tensor(*self.rank))
         self.factors = ParameterList(nn.Parameter(torch.Tensor(s, r))\
                                         for (s, r) in zip(self.kernel_shape, self.rank))