diff --git a/wipe.pl b/wipe.pl
index 96b1a15..8e7e0a8 100755
--- a/wipe.pl
+++ b/wipe.pl
@@ -9,16 +9,25 @@ use v5.10;
 # loose badass and you don't need no stinkin' safety net.
 use constant CONFIRMATION_PHRASE => "I am a pretty pink pineapple!";
 
-if ($>) {
-	say "This program requires root, sorry.";
-	exit;
-}
-
 my $termios = POSIX::Termios->new;
 $termios->getattr(fileno(STDIN));
 # fetch this value once and cache it
 my $startup_lflag = $termios->getlflag();
 
+# set termios lflag to not echo keystrokes, and take us out of line mode
+$termios->setlflag($startup_lflag & ~(ECHO | ECHOK | ICANON));
+$termios->setattr(fileno(STDIN), TCSANOW);
+
+END { # reset termios lflag on exit
+	$termios->setlflag($startup_lflag);
+	$termios->setattr(fileno(STDIN), TCSANOW);
+}
+
+if ($>) {
+	say "This program requires root, sorry.";
+	exit;
+}
+
 # define some colors for convenience
 my %color = (
 	# use tput to support anything with a terminfo entry
@@ -36,15 +45,6 @@ if (!$notreally && CONFIRMATION_PHRASE) {
 	do { say; exit } unless CONFIRMATION_PHRASE eq $confirm;
 }
 
-# set termios lflag to not echo keystrokes, and take us out of line mode
-$termios->setlflag($startup_lflag & ~(ECHO | ECHOK | ICANON));
-$termios->setattr(fileno(STDIN), TCSANOW);
-
-END { # reset termios lflag on exit
-	$termios->setlflag($startup_lflag);
-	$termios->setattr(fileno(STDIN), TCSANOW);
-}
-
 # create our random data and store it in RAM so we can keep reusing it
 open(my $drand, "<", "/dev/urandom");
 my $clobber;