diff --git a/uc.c b/uc.c
index ab466601..4eb04f8f 100644
--- a/uc.c
+++ b/uc.c
@@ -622,10 +622,6 @@ static uc_err mem_map(uc_engine *uc, uint64_t address, size_t size, uint32_t per
 {
     MemoryRegion **regions;
 
-    // this area overlaps existing mapped regions?
-    if (memory_overlap(uc, address, size))
-        return UC_ERR_MAP;
-
     if (block == NULL)
         return UC_ERR_NOMEM;
 
@@ -666,6 +662,11 @@ static uc_err mem_map_check(uc_engine *uc, uint64_t address, size_t size, uint32
     if ((perms & ~UC_PROT_ALL) != 0)
         return UC_ERR_ARG;
 
+    // this area overlaps existing mapped regions?
+    if (memory_overlap(uc, address, size)) {
+        return UC_ERR_MAP;
+    }
+
     return UC_ERR_OK;
 }