diff --git a/filter.lua b/filter.lua
index 71b8d0b..e8e9137 100644
--- a/filter.lua
+++ b/filter.lua
@@ -486,10 +486,10 @@ function AuthFilter( path, name, debug )
 		local file = io.open( path .. "/" .. name, "r" )
 		if not file then
 			file = io.open( path .. "/" .. name, "w+")
-			file:write("pass now")
 			if not file then
 				error( "The specified ruleset file does not exist." )
 			end
+			file:write("pass now")
 			file:close( file )
 			file = io.open( path .. "/" .. name, "r" )
 		end