diff --git a/src/frontend/outitf.c b/src/frontend/outitf.c
index ee1cb0737..ba8372b91 100644
--- a/src/frontend/outitf.c
+++ b/src/frontend/outitf.c
@@ -647,6 +647,8 @@ OUTpData(runDesc *plotPtr, IFvalue *refValue, IFvalue *valuePtr)
 
     } else {
 
+        OUTpD_memory(run, refValue, valuePtr);
+
         /*  This is interactive mode. Update the screen with the reference
             variable just the same  */
 
@@ -666,8 +668,6 @@ OUTpData(runDesc *plotPtr, IFvalue *refValue, IFvalue *valuePtr)
         }
 #endif
 
-        OUTpD_memory(run, refValue, valuePtr);
-
         gr_iplot(run->runPlot);
     }