diff --git a/ethchain/state_transition.go b/ethchain/state_transition.go
index a92aa4a339..10a795cb82 100644
--- a/ethchain/state_transition.go
+++ b/ethchain/state_transition.go
@@ -176,8 +176,6 @@ func (self *StateTransition) TransitionState() (err error) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	snapshot := self.state.Copy()
-
 	receiver = self.Receiver()
 
 	// If the receiver is nil it's a contract (\0*32).
@@ -194,6 +192,8 @@ func (self *StateTransition) TransitionState() (err error) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	snapshot := self.state.Copy()
+
 	// Process the init code and create 'valid' contract
 	if IsContractAddr(self.receiver) {
 		// Evaluate the initialization script