diff --git a/automessage.go b/automessage.go
index c637879..456e9b9 100644
--- a/automessage.go
+++ b/automessage.go
@@ -35,13 +35,13 @@ type autoMessage struct {
 }
 
 func (a *autoMessage) CanSend() bool {
+	a.lock.RLock()
+	defer a.lock.RUnlock()
+
 	if a.disabled || !a.IsValid() {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	a.lock.RLock()
-	defer a.lock.RUnlock()
-
 	switch {
 	case a.MessageInterval > a.linesSinceLastMessage:
 		// Not enough chatted lines