diff --git a/src/vmware/vmware_driver.c b/src/vmware/vmware_driver.c
index 79954e08a5..0e7a37f493 100644
--- a/src/vmware/vmware_driver.c
+++ b/src/vmware/vmware_driver.c
@@ -166,6 +166,9 @@ vmwareConnectOpen(virConnectPtr conn,
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
+    if (vmwareExtractVersion(driver) < 0)
+        goto cleanup;
+
     if (!(driver->domains = virDomainObjListNew()))
         goto cleanup;
 
@@ -178,9 +181,6 @@ vmwareConnectOpen(virConnectPtr conn,
     if (vmwareLoadDomains(driver) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
-    if (vmwareExtractVersion(driver) < 0)
-        goto cleanup;
-
     conn->privateData = driver;
 
     return VIR_DRV_OPEN_SUCCESS;