diff --git a/R/predict.R b/R/predict.R
index f044efa4..237a66c8 100644
--- a/R/predict.R
+++ b/R/predict.R
@@ -1170,13 +1170,6 @@ predict.stan_nma <- function(object, ...,
         }
       }
 
-      # Check all variables are present
-      predreg <- get_model_data_columns(preddat,
-                                        regression = object$regression,
-                                        aux_regression = object$aux_regression,
-                                        keep = object$aux_by,
-                                        label = "`newdata`")
-
       preddat$.sample_size <- 1
 
       # Check times argument
@@ -1227,6 +1220,13 @@ predict.stan_nma <- function(object, ...,
         }
       }
 
+      # Check all variables are present
+      preddat <- get_model_data_columns(preddat,
+                                        regression = object$regression,
+                                        aux_regression = object$aux_regression,
+                                        keep = object$aux_by,
+                                        label = "`newdata`")
+
       # Make design matrix of all studies and all treatments
       if (rlang::has_name(preddat, ".trt")) preddat <- dplyr::select(preddat, -".trt")
       if (packageVersion("dplyr") >= "1.1.1") {