diff --git a/libinterp/corefcn/graphics.cc b/libinterp/corefcn/graphics.cc
index e455b6ce79..745ec3b6b8 100644
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/graphics.cc
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/graphics.cc
@@ -9691,10 +9691,6 @@ patch::properties::update_fvc ()
       return;
     }
 
-  bool pervertex = false;
-  if (ncv == nv)
-    pervertex = true;
-
   bool isRGB = false;
   if (cd.ndims () == 3)
     isRGB = true;
@@ -9711,6 +9707,10 @@ patch::properties::update_fvc ()
       zd = zd.as_column ();
     }
 
+  bool pervertex = false;
+  if (ncv == nv)
+    pervertex = true;
+
   dv(0) = nv * nf;
   if (zd.isempty ())
     dv(1) = 2;