diff --git a/modules/chankeep.py b/modules/chankeep.py
index 48e5741..607dddb 100644
--- a/modules/chankeep.py
+++ b/modules/chankeep.py
@@ -302,10 +302,11 @@ def keepChannels(net, listinfo, mean, sigrelay, relay):
         #     newNums = modules.provision.provisionMultipleRelays(net, needed)
         # else:
         #     newNums = []
-        if len(flist) > max_chans:
-            max_chans = len(flist)-1
-        chosen = sorted(flist, reverse=True, key=lambda x: x[1])[:max_chans]
         flist = [i[0] for i in listinfo]
+        if len(flist) > max_chans:
+            max_chans = len(flist) - 1
+        chosen = sorted(flist, reverse=True, key=lambda x: x[1])[:max_chans]
+
         debug(f"keepChannels() {net}: joining {len(chosen)}/{len(flist)} channels")
         trace(f"keepChannels() {net}: joining:{chosen}")
         populateChans(net, chosen)
@@ -317,10 +318,11 @@ def keepChannels(net, listinfo, mean, sigrelay, relay):
         # else:
         #     newNums = []
         siglist = [i for i in listinfo if int(i[1]) > mean]
+        if len(siglist) > max_chans:
+            max_chans = len(siglist) - 1
         chosen = sorted(siglist, reverse=True, key=lambda x: x[1])[:max_chans]
         siglist = [i[0] for i in siglist]
-        if len(siglist) > max_chans:
-            max_chans = len(siglist)-1
+
         debug(f"keepChannels() {net}: siglist:{siglist} max_chans:{max_chans} len_sig:{len(siglist)}")
         debug(f"keepChannels() {net}: joining {len(chosen)}/{len(siglist)} channels")
         trace(f"keepChannels() {net}: joining:{chosen}")