diff --git a/webtools/bugzilla/process_bug.cgi b/webtools/bugzilla/process_bug.cgi
index 6fb94711a0d5..e389d45513fc 100755
--- a/webtools/bugzilla/process_bug.cgi
+++ b/webtools/bugzilla/process_bug.cgi
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ if (defined $::FORM{'id'}) {
 # Make sure there are bugs to process.
 scalar(@idlist) || ThrowUserError("no_bugs_chosen");
 
+$::FORM{'dontchange'} = '' unless exists $::FORM{'dontchange'};
+
 # Validate all timetracking fields
 foreach my $field ("estimated_time", "work_time", "remaining_time") {
     if (defined $::FORM{$field}) {
@@ -146,8 +148,6 @@ if (defined $::FORM{'id'}) {
     Bugzilla::FlagType::validate(\%::FORM, $::FORM{'id'});
 }
 
-$::FORM{'dontchange'} = '' unless exists $::FORM{'dontchange'};
-
 ######################################################################
 # End Data/Security Validation
 ######################################################################