diff --git a/libsrc/meshing/improve3.cpp b/libsrc/meshing/improve3.cpp
index 9be87229..620a650b 100644
--- a/libsrc/meshing/improve3.cpp
+++ b/libsrc/meshing/improve3.cpp
@@ -546,9 +546,6 @@ double MeshOptimize3d :: SplitImproveEdge (Table<ElementIndex,PointIndex> & elem
       if (!mesh.LegalTet (oldel)) bad1 += GetLegalPenalty();
       if (!mesh.LegalTet (newel1)) bad2 += GetLegalPenalty();
       if (!mesh.LegalTet (newel2)) bad2 += GetLegalPenalty();
-
-      if( newel1.Volume(mesh.Points()) < 0.0 || newel2.Volume(mesh.Points()) < 0.0)
-        return 0.0;
     }
 
   d_badness = bad2-bad1;
@@ -567,9 +564,6 @@ double MeshOptimize3d :: SplitImproveEdge (Table<ElementIndex,PointIndex> & elem
           Element newel1 = oldel;
           Element newel2 = oldel;
 
-          oldel.Touch();
-          oldel.Delete();
-
           newel1.Touch();
           newel2.Touch();
 
@@ -579,6 +573,12 @@ double MeshOptimize3d :: SplitImproveEdge (Table<ElementIndex,PointIndex> & elem
               if (newel2[l] == pi1) newel2[l] = pinew;
             }
 
+          if( newel1.Volume(mesh.Points()) < 0.0 || newel2.Volume(mesh.Points()) < 0.0)
+            return 0.0;
+
+          oldel.Touch();
+          oldel.Delete();
+
           mesh.AddVolumeElement (newel1);
           mesh.AddVolumeElement (newel2);
         }