diff --git a/bin/delv/delv.c b/bin/delv/delv.c
index 25ff05e857..16e005ab7f 100644
--- a/bin/delv/delv.c
+++ b/bin/delv/delv.c
@@ -1378,10 +1378,6 @@ plus_option(char *option) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Invalid option: +%s\n", option);
 		usage();
 	}
-
-	if (qmin && !fulltrace) {
-		fatal("'+qmin' cannot be used without '+ns'");
-	}
 	return;
 }
 
@@ -1730,6 +1726,11 @@ parse_args(int argc, char **argv) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	/* check consistency */
+	if (qmin && !fulltrace) {
+		fatal("'+qmin' cannot be used without '+ns'");
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * If no qname or qtype specified, search for root/NS
 	 * If no qtype specified, use A