diff --git a/jot.c b/jot.c

index 7024b95..2244a32 100644

--- a/jot.c

+++ b/jot.c

@@ -204,11 +190,12 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)

 		errx(1, "too many arguments.  What do you mean by %s?",

 		    argv[4]);

 	}

-	getformat();

 	if (prec == -1)

 		prec = 0;

+	getformat();

+

 	while (mask)	/* 4 bit mask has 1's where last 4 args were given */

 		switch (mask) {	/* fill in the 0's by default or computation */

 		case HAVE_STEP: