diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jabref/logic/util/UpdateField.java b/src/main/java/org/jabref/logic/util/UpdateField.java
index 64bd768ddf5..93ab1b74ce7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jabref/logic/util/UpdateField.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jabref/logic/util/UpdateField.java
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ public static void setAutomaticFields(Collection<BibEntry> entries, OwnerPrefere
         }
 
         String defaultOwner = ownerPreferences.getDefaultOwner();
-        String timestamp = timestampPreferences.now();
         boolean overwriteOwner = ownerPreferences.isOverwriteOwner();
+        String timestamp = timestampPreferences.now();
 
         for (BibEntry curEntry : entries) {
             boolean setOwner = globalSetOwner && (overwriteOwner || (!curEntry.hasField(StandardField.OWNER)));