diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionequip.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionequip.cpp
index 39c5abe34..fd35d0dd3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionequip.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionequip.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,18 @@ namespace MWWorld
         MWWorld::Ptr object = getTarget();
         MWWorld::InventoryStore& invStore = MWWorld::Class::get(actor).getInventoryStore(actor);
 
+        switch(MWWorld::Class::get (object).canBeEquipped (actor, object))
+        {
+            case 0:
+                return;
+            case 2:
+                invStore.equip(MWWorld::InventoryStore::Slot_CarriedLeft, invStore.end());
+                break;
+            case 3:
+                invStore.equip(MWWorld::InventoryStore::Slot_CarriedRight, invStore.end());
+                break;
+        }
+
         // slots that this item can be equipped in
         std::pair<std::vector<int>, bool> slots = MWWorld::Class::get(getTarget()).getEquipmentSlots(getTarget());
 
@@ -40,18 +52,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         bool equipped = false;
 
-        switch(MWWorld::Class::get (object).canBeEquipped (actor, object))
-        {
-            case 0:
-                return;
-            case 2:
-                invStore.equip(MWWorld::InventoryStore::Slot_CarriedLeft, invStore.end());
-                break;
-            case 3:
-                invStore.equip(MWWorld::InventoryStore::Slot_CarriedRight, invStore.end());
-                break;
-        }
-
         // equip the item in the first free slot
         for (std::vector<int>::const_iterator slot=slots.first.begin();
             slot!=slots.first.end(); ++slot)