diff --git a/src/content/learn/state-a-components-memory.md b/src/content/learn/state-a-components-memory.md
index 75a1fd0b91e..92f407b1f7a 100644
--- a/src/content/learn/state-a-components-memory.md
+++ b/src/content/learn/state-a-components-memory.md
@@ -551,10 +551,6 @@ function useState(initialState) {
     return pair;
   }
 
-  // This is the first time we're rendering,
-  // so create a state pair and store it.
-  pair = [initialState, setState];
-
   function setState(nextState) {
     // When the user requests a state change,
     // put the new value into the pair.
@@ -562,6 +558,10 @@ function useState(initialState) {
     updateDOM();
   }
 
+  // This is the first time we're rendering,
+  // so create a state pair and store it.
+  pair = [initialState, setState];
+
   // Store the pair for future renders
   // and prepare for the next Hook call.
   componentHooks[currentHookIndex] = pair;