diff --git a/src/Fl_Help_View.cxx b/src/Fl_Help_View.cxx
index 9a36d7f4a..6623734e1 100644
--- a/src/Fl_Help_View.cxx
+++ b/src/Fl_Help_View.cxx
@@ -1327,8 +1327,8 @@ Fl_Help_View::format()
 		 strcasecmp(buf, "TABLE") == 0)
 	{
           block->end = start;
-	  newalign   = strcasecmp(buf, "CENTER") ? LEFT : CENTER;
           line       = do_align(block, line, xx, newalign, links);
+	  newalign   = strcasecmp(buf, "CENTER") ? LEFT : CENTER;
           xx         = block->x;
           block->h   += hh;