diff --git a/src/insdel.c b/src/insdel.c
index 1deda9d7ac8..489f80f1ea3 100644
--- a/src/insdel.c
+++ b/src/insdel.c
@@ -425,6 +425,9 @@ del_range (from, to)
 
   prepare_to_modify_buffer (from, to);
 
+  record_delete (from, numdel);
+  MODIFF++;
+
   /* Relocate point as if it were a marker.  */
   if (from < point)
     {
@@ -434,9 +437,6 @@ del_range (from, to)
 	SET_PT (point - numdel);
     }
 
-  record_delete (from, numdel);
-  MODIFF++;
-
   /* Relocate all markers pointing into the new, larger gap
      to point at the end of the text before the gap.  */
   adjust_markers (to + GAP_SIZE, to + GAP_SIZE, - numdel - GAP_SIZE);