diff --git a/modules/validations/outdated_tags.js b/modules/validations/outdated_tags.js
index 5c8b5a929..02114b927 100644
--- a/modules/validations/outdated_tags.js
+++ b/modules/validations/outdated_tags.js
@@ -24,12 +24,14 @@ export function validationOutdatedTags() {
 
 
   function oldTagIssues(entity, graph) {
-    const oldTags = Object.assign({}, entity.tags);  // shallow copy
-    let preset = presetManager.match(entity, graph);
-    let subtype = 'deprecated_tags';
-    if (!preset) return [];
     if (!entity.hasInterestingTags()) return [];
 
+    let preset = presetManager.match(entity, graph);
+    if (!preset) return [];
+
+    const oldTags = Object.assign({}, entity.tags);  // shallow copy
+    let subtype = 'deprecated_tags';
+
     // Upgrade preset, if a replacement is available..
     if (preset.replacement) {
       const newPreset = presetManager.item(preset.replacement);