diff --git a/salt/client.py b/salt/client.py
index 1652eed197..760112997d 100644
--- a/salt/client.py
+++ b/salt/client.py
@@ -82,14 +82,16 @@ class LocalClient(object):
         '''
         Read in the rotating master authentication key
         '''
+        keyfile = os.path.join(self.opts['cachedir'], '.root_key')
+        # Make sure all key parent directories are accessible
+        user = self.opts.get('user', 'root')
+        salt.utils.verify.check_parent_dirs(keyfile, user)
+
         try:
-            keyfile = os.path.join(self.opts['cachedir'], '.root_key')
-            # Make sure all key parent directories are accessible
-            user = self.opts.get('user', 'root')
-            salt.utils.verify.check_parent_dirs(keyfile, user)
             with open(keyfile, 'r') as KEY:
                 return KEY.read()
         except (OSError, IOError):
+            # In theory, this should never get hit. Belt & suspenders baby!
             raise SaltClientError(('Problem reading the salt root key. Are'
                                    ' you root?'))