diff --git a/crates/ivc/src/compilers/cyclefold/mod.rs b/crates/ivc/src/compilers/cyclefold/mod.rs
index aca3bddd..efb14d56 100644
--- a/crates/ivc/src/compilers/cyclefold/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ivc/src/compilers/cyclefold/mod.rs
@@ -364,12 +364,6 @@ where
         current_state: &FC::State,
         Proof(W, U, w, u, cf_W, cf_U): &Self::Proof<FC>,
     ) -> Result<(), Error> {
-        if i == 0 {
-            return (initial_state == current_state)
-                .then_some(())
-                .ok_or(Error::IVCVerificationFail);
-        }
-
         // Ensure the prover supplied `initial_state` and `current_state` have
         // the same shape as `reference_state`'s, which is exactly what the
         // augmented circuit was synthesized for.
@@ -383,6 +377,12 @@ where
             return Err(Error::IVCVerificationFail);
         }
 
+        if i == 0 {
+            return (initial_state == current_state)
+                .then_some(())
+                .ok_or(Error::IVCVerificationFail);
+        }
+
         let hash = T::new_with_pp_hash(hash_config.clone(), *pp_hash);
         let mut sponge = hash.separate_domain("sponge".as_ref());