diff --git a/config/parse/parsing.go b/config/parse/parsing.go
index 430751107..8eb2c12c6 100644
--- a/config/parse/parsing.go
+++ b/config/parse/parsing.go
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ func (p *parser) begin() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if p.eof {
+		// this happens if the Caddyfile consists of only
+		// a line of addresses and nothing else
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	err = p.blockContents()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -113,12 +119,6 @@ func (p *parser) blockContents() error {
 		p.cursor--
 	}
 
-	if p.eof {
-		// this happens if the Caddyfile consists of only
-		// a line of addresses and nothing else
-		return nil
-	}
-
 	err := p.directives()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err