diff --git a/newlib/libc/time/mktime.c b/newlib/libc/time/mktime.c
index de426dfeaa..0c1336012d 100644
--- a/newlib/libc/time/mktime.c
+++ b/newlib/libc/time/mktime.c
@@ -191,6 +191,10 @@ mktime_utc (struct tm *tim_p, long *days_p)
   /* validate structure */
   validate_structure (tim_p);
 
+  /* check if year has valid value */  
+  if (tim_p->tm_year > 10000 || tim_p->tm_year < 0)
+      return (time_t) -1;
+    
   /* compute hours, minutes, seconds */
   tim += tim_p->tm_sec + (tim_p->tm_min * SECSPERMIN) +
     (tim_p->tm_hour * SECSPERHOUR);
@@ -204,9 +208,6 @@ mktime_utc (struct tm *tim_p, long *days_p)
   /* compute day of the year */
   tim_p->tm_yday = days;
 
-  if (tim_p->tm_year > 10000 || tim_p->tm_year < -10000)
-      return (time_t) -1;
-
   /* compute days in other years */
   if ((year = tim_p->tm_year) > 70)
     {