diff --git a/src/Verilator.cpp b/src/Verilator.cpp
index 8a072c266..bf74ef44d 100644
--- a/src/Verilator.cpp
+++ b/src/Verilator.cpp
@@ -175,17 +175,15 @@ static void process() {
     // Propagate constants into expressions
     V3Const::constifyAllLint(v3Global.rootp());
 
-    // Split packed variables into multiple pieces to resolve UNOPTFLAT.
-    // should be after constifyAllLint() which flattens to 1D bit vector
-    V3SplitVar::splitVariable(v3Global.rootp());
-
     if (!v3Global.opt.xmlOnly()) {
+        // Split packed variables into multiple pieces to resolve UNOPTFLAT.
+        // should be after constifyAllLint() which flattens to 1D bit vector
+        V3SplitVar::splitVariable(v3Global.rootp());
+
         // Remove cell arrays (must be between V3Width and scoping)
         V3Inst::dearrayAll(v3Global.rootp());
         V3LinkDot::linkDotArrayed(v3Global.rootp());
-    }
 
-    if (!v3Global.opt.xmlOnly()) {
         // Task inlining & pushing BEGINs names to variables/cells
         // Begin processing must be after Param, before module inlining
         V3Begin::debeginAll(v3Global.rootp());  // Flatten cell names, before inliner