diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs
index 311020246..238f751fc 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs
@@ -191,11 +191,6 @@ includedirectivep = do
   lift (skipSome spacenonewline)
   filename <- T.unpack <$> takeWhileP Nothing (/= '\n') -- don't consume newline yet
 
-  -- save parent state
-  parentParserState <- getParserState
-  parentj <- get
-
-  let childj = newJournalWithParseStateFrom parentj
   parentpos <- getPosition
 
   -- read child input
@@ -203,6 +198,12 @@ includedirectivep = do
   filepath <- lift $ expandPath curdir filename `orRethrowIOError` (show parentpos ++ " locating " ++ filename)
   childInput <- lift $ readFilePortably filepath `orRethrowIOError` (show parentpos ++ " reading " ++ filepath)
 
+  -- save parent state
+  parentParserState <- getParserState
+  parentj <- get
+
+  let childj = newJournalWithParseStateFrom parentj
+
   -- set child state
   setInput childInput
   pushPosition $ initialPos filepath