diff --git a/hw/char/stm32f2xx_usart.c b/hw/char/stm32f2xx_usart.c
index f3363a2952..10392c70e2 100644
--- a/hw/char/stm32f2xx_usart.c
+++ b/hw/char/stm32f2xx_usart.c
@@ -53,14 +53,13 @@ static void stm32f2xx_usart_receive(void *opaque, const uint8_t *buf, int size)
 {
     STM32F2XXUsartState *s = opaque;
 
-    s->usart_dr = *buf;
-
     if (!(s->usart_cr1 & USART_CR1_UE && s->usart_cr1 & USART_CR1_RE)) {
         /* USART not enabled - drop the chars */
         DB_PRINT("Dropping the chars\n");
         return;
     }
 
+    s->usart_dr = *buf;
     s->usart_sr |= USART_SR_RXNE;
 
     if (s->usart_cr1 & USART_CR1_RXNEIE) {