diff --git a/udp-client.go b/udp-client.go
index f91467b..789e7bf 100644
--- a/udp-client.go
+++ b/udp-client.go
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ func (uc *UDPClient) Run() error {
 
 func (uc *UDPClient) Output(payload any) error {
 
+	payloadBytes, ok := payload.([]byte)
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("net.udp.client is only able to output bytes")
+	}
+
 	client, err := net.DialUDP("udp", nil, uc.addr)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -83,11 +88,6 @@ func (uc *UDPClient) Output(payload any) error {
 
 	uc.conn = client
 
-	payloadBytes, ok := payload.([]byte)
-	if !ok {
-		return fmt.Errorf("net.udp.client is only able to output bytes")
-	}
-
 	_, err = uc.conn.Write(payloadBytes)
 
 	if err != nil {