diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet.cpp b/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
index 733afd49c1..0a06879754 100644
--- a/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
@@ -3682,13 +3682,14 @@ CWallet* CWallet::CreateWalletFromFile(const std::string walletFile)
     {
         // Create new keyUser and set as default key
         if (GetBoolArg("-usehd", DEFAULT_USE_HD_WALLET) && !walletInstance->IsHDEnabled()) {
+
+            // ensure this wallet.dat can only be opened by clients supporting HD with chain split
+            walletInstance->SetMinVersion(FEATURE_HD_SPLIT);
+
             // generate a new master key
             CPubKey masterPubKey = walletInstance->GenerateNewHDMasterKey();
             if (!walletInstance->SetHDMasterKey(masterPubKey))
                 throw std::runtime_error(std::string(__func__) + ": Storing master key failed");
-
-            // ensure this wallet.dat can only be opened by clients supporting HD with chain split
-            walletInstance->SetMinVersion(FEATURE_HD_SPLIT);
         }
         CPubKey newDefaultKey;
         if (walletInstance->GetKeyFromPool(newDefaultKey, false)) {