diff --git a/flashrom.c b/flashrom.c
index b6f52fa55..100fc480a 100644
--- a/flashrom.c
+++ b/flashrom.c
@@ -1900,6 +1900,13 @@ int prepare_flash_access(struct flashctx *const flash,
 		return 1;
 	}
 
+	if ((write_it || erase_it) && !flash->flags.force) {
+		if (!can_change_target_regions(flash)) {
+			msg_cerr("At least one target region is not fully writable. Aborting.\n");
+			return 1;
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (map_flash(flash) != 0)
 		return 1;
 
@@ -1923,13 +1930,6 @@ int prepare_flash_access(struct flashctx *const flash,
 	if (ret && bp_func)
 		bp_func(flash);
 
-	if ((write_it || erase_it) && !flash->flags.force) {
-		if (!can_change_target_regions(flash)) {
-			msg_cerr("At least one target region is not fully writable. Aborting.\n");
-			return 1;
-		}
-	}
-
 	flash->address_high_byte = -1;
 	flash->in_4ba_mode = false;