diff --git a/src/or/routerlist.c b/src/or/routerlist.c
index 87b5404152..95a2a471fd 100644
--- a/src/or/routerlist.c
+++ b/src/or/routerlist.c
@@ -1466,12 +1466,14 @@ add_trusted_dir_server(const char *address, uint16_t port, const char *digest)
       log_fn(LOG_WARN, "Couldn't find a suitable address. Returning.");
       return;
     }
-  } else if (tor_lookup_hostname(address, &a)) {
-    log_fn(LOG_WARN, "Unable to lookup address for directory server at %s",
-           address);
-    return;
+  } else {
+    if (tor_lookup_hostname(address, &a)) {
+      log_fn(LOG_WARN, "Unable to lookup address for directory server at %s",
+             address);
+      return;
+    }
+    a = ntohl(a);
   }
-  a = ntohl(a);
 
   ent = tor_malloc(sizeof(trusted_dir_server_t));
   if (address) {