diff --git a/p2p/discover/v4_udp.go b/p2p/discover/v4_udp.go
index d61a52c39..ab335e2ce 100644
--- a/p2p/discover/v4_udp.go
+++ b/p2p/discover/v4_udp.go
@@ -643,13 +643,13 @@ type packetHandlerV4 struct {
 func (t *UDPv4) verifyPing(h *packetHandlerV4, from *net.UDPAddr, fromID enode.ID, fromKey v4wire.Pubkey) error {
 	req := h.Packet.(*v4wire.Ping)
 
+	if v4wire.Expired(req.Expiration) {
+		return errExpired
+	}
 	senderKey, err := v4wire.DecodePubkey(crypto.S256(), fromKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if v4wire.Expired(req.Expiration) {
-		return errExpired
-	}
 	h.senderKey = senderKey
 	return nil
 }