diff --git a/feeds.module b/feeds.module
index eb31c451..39ba8b62 100644
--- a/feeds.module
+++ b/feeds.module
@@ -1447,8 +1447,8 @@ function feeds_include_simplepie() {
  * @deprecated in 7.x-2.0-alpha6 and will be removed before 7.x-2.0.
  */
 function feeds_alter($type, &$data) {
-  $args = array(&$data);
   $additional_args = func_get_args();
+  $args = array(&$data);
   array_shift($additional_args);
   array_shift($additional_args);
   $args = array_merge($args, $additional_args);