diff --git a/Zotlabs/Daemon/Externals.php b/Zotlabs/Daemon/Externals.php
index b67a0e286..442ae49aa 100644
--- a/Zotlabs/Daemon/Externals.php
+++ b/Zotlabs/Daemon/Externals.php
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ class Externals {
 				}
 			}
 
+			$attempts++;
+
 			if (!$url) {
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -85,7 +87,6 @@ class Externals {
 				$blacklisted = true;
 			}
 
-			$attempts++;
 
 			// make sure we can eventually break out if somebody blacklists all known sites