diff --git a/FreeRTOS-Plus/Source/FreeRTOS-Plus-UDP/FreeRTOS_Sockets.c b/FreeRTOS-Plus/Source/FreeRTOS-Plus-UDP/FreeRTOS_Sockets.c
index 5c9ff73de..ffd1a812e 100644
--- a/FreeRTOS-Plus/Source/FreeRTOS-Plus-UDP/FreeRTOS_Sockets.c
+++ b/FreeRTOS-Plus/Source/FreeRTOS-Plus-UDP/FreeRTOS_Sockets.c
@@ -943,11 +943,11 @@ uint16_t usReturn;
 			create first so the early port numbers may still be in use. */
 			usNextPortToUse = socketAUTO_PORT_ALLOCATION_RESET_NUMBER;
 		}
+
+		usReturn = FreeRTOS_htons( usNextPortToUse );
 	}
 	taskEXIT_CRITICAL();
 
-	usReturn = FreeRTOS_htons( usNextPortToUse );
-
 	return usReturn;
 } /* Tested */
 /*-----------------------------------------------------------*/