diff --git a/src/Php/TalesInternal.php b/src/Php/TalesInternal.php
index 307e4b02..9f126024 100644
--- a/src/Php/TalesInternal.php
+++ b/src/Php/TalesInternal.php
@@ -455,9 +455,11 @@ public static function php(string $src): string
             throw new PhpNotAllowedException('The php modifier has been disabled, you must not use it.');
         }
 
-        static::checkTokens($src);
+        $transformed = Transformer::transform($src, '$ctx->');
 
-        return Transformer::transform($src, '$ctx->');
+        static::checkTokens($transformed);
+
+        return $transformed;
     }
 
     /**