diff --git a/src/one-body-sample.cc b/src/one-body-sample.cc
index d04c8cc4f17064a16e762894cd967686dc369103..9e779523ab3465e41b0711fb8df9a8515b082690 100644
--- a/src/one-body-sample.cc
+++ b/src/one-body-sample.cc
@@ -191,13 +191,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     // {{{ Initialise vectors
     VectorType u(finestSize);
     u = 0.0; // Has to be zero!
-
-    SingletonVectorType alpha_old(finestSize);
-    alpha_old = parset.get<double>("boundary.friction.state.initial");
-
     VectorType u_diff(finestSize);
     u_diff = 0.0; // Has to be zero!
 
+    SingletonVectorType alpha_old(finestSize);
+    alpha_old = parset.get<double>("boundary.friction.state.initial");
     SingletonVectorType alpha(alpha_old);
 
     SingletonVectorType vonMisesStress;