diff --git a/src/stage.c b/src/stage.c
index 9b4ddec60..0d6209a0c 100644
--- a/src/stage.c
+++ b/src/stage.c
@@ -319,9 +319,6 @@ stage_insert_chunk(struct view *view, struct chunk_header *header,
 		   struct line *from, struct line *to, struct line *last_unchanged_line)
 {
 	struct box *box;
-	unsigned long from_lineno = last_unchanged_line - view->line;
-	unsigned long to_lineno = to - view->line;
-	unsigned long after_lineno = to_lineno;
 	int i;
 
 	box = from->data;
@@ -338,6 +335,10 @@ stage_insert_chunk(struct view *view, struct chunk_header *header,
 	if (!to)
 		return from;
 
+	unsigned long from_lineno = last_unchanged_line - view->line;
+	unsigned long to_lineno = to - view->line;
+	unsigned long after_lineno = to_lineno;
+
 	// Next diff chunk line
 	if (!add_line_text_at(view, after_lineno++, "", LINE_DIFF_CHUNK, 1))
 		return NULL;