diff --git a/client.c b/client.c
index 26efbab..1ddaeef 100644
--- a/client.c
+++ b/client.c
@@ -589,18 +589,20 @@ process_cmd_burst(CMD_Request *msg, char *line)
   s2 = CPS_SplitWord(s1);
   CPS_SplitWord(s2);
 
-  if (sscanf(s1, "%d/%d", &n_good_samples, &n_total_samples) != 2 ||
-      (*s2 && !read_mask_address(s2, &mask, &address))) {
+  if (sscanf(s1, "%d/%d", &n_good_samples, &n_total_samples) != 2) {
     fprintf(stderr, "Invalid syntax for burst command\n");
     return 0;
   }
 
+  mask.family = address.family = IPADDR_UNSPEC;
+  if (*s2 && !read_mask_address(s2, &mask, &address)) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   msg->command = htons(REQ_BURST);
   msg->data.burst.n_good_samples = ntohl(n_good_samples);
   msg->data.burst.n_total_samples = ntohl(n_total_samples);
 
-  mask.family = address.family = IPADDR_UNSPEC;
-
   UTI_IPHostToNetwork(&mask, &msg->data.burst.mask);
   UTI_IPHostToNetwork(&address, &msg->data.burst.address);