diff --git a/src/msw/textctrl.cpp b/src/msw/textctrl.cpp
index 7d2875e37c..5189b09808 100644
--- a/src/msw/textctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/textctrl.cpp
@@ -1693,18 +1693,18 @@ bool wxRichEditModule::Load(int version)
     // make it the index in the array
     version--;
 
-    if ( ms_hRichEdit[version] )
-    {
-        // we've already got this one
-        return TRUE;
-    }
-
     if ( ms_hRichEdit[version] == (HINSTANCE)-1 )
     {
         // we had already tried to load it and failed
         return FALSE;
     }
 
+    if ( ms_hRichEdit[version] )
+    {
+        // we've already got this one
+        return TRUE;
+    }
+
     wxString dllname = version ? _T("riched20") : _T("riched32");
     dllname += _T(".dll");