diff --git a/src/thingdef/thingdef_properties.cpp b/src/thingdef/thingdef_properties.cpp
index d6b4b321c..9a057ad70 100644
--- a/src/thingdef/thingdef_properties.cpp
+++ b/src/thingdef/thingdef_properties.cpp
@@ -2232,7 +2232,6 @@ static void PowerupDuration (FScanner &sc, APowerupGiver *defaults, Baggage &bag
 {
 	int *pEffectTics;
 
-	sc.MustGetNumber();
 
 	if (bag.Info->Class->IsDescendantOf(RUNTIME_CLASS(APowerup)))
 	{
@@ -2247,6 +2246,8 @@ static void PowerupDuration (FScanner &sc, APowerupGiver *defaults, Baggage &bag
 		sc.ScriptError("\"%s\" requires an actor of type \"Powerup\"\n", sc.String);
 		return;
 	}
+
+	sc.MustGetNumber();
 	*pEffectTics = (sc.Number >= 0) ? sc.Number : -sc.Number * TICRATE;
 }