diff --git a/policycoreutils/newrole/newrole.c b/policycoreutils/newrole/newrole.c
index 42f08d0f..8fbf2d03 100644
--- a/policycoreutils/newrole/newrole.c
+++ b/policycoreutils/newrole/newrole.c
@@ -543,14 +543,14 @@ static int restore_environment(int preserve_environment,
 #if defined(AUDIT_LOG_PRIV) && !defined(NAMESPACE_PRIV)
 static int drop_capabilities(int full)
 {
+	uid_t uid = getuid();
+	if (!uid) return 0;
+
 	capng_setpid(getpid());
 	capng_clear(CAPNG_SELECT_BOTH);
 	if (capng_lock() < 0) 
 		return -1;
 
-	uid_t uid = getuid();
-	if (!uid) return 0;
-
 	/* Change uid */
 	if (setresuid(uid, uid, uid)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, _("Error changing uid, aborting.\n"));