diff --git a/Objects/setobject.c b/Objects/setobject.c
--- a/Objects/setobject.c
+++ b/Objects/setobject.c
@@ -171,12 +171,12 @@
             Py_INCREF(startkey);
             cmp = PyObject_RichCompareBool(startkey, key, Py_EQ);
             Py_DECREF(startkey);
+            if (cmp > 0)                                          /* likely */
+                goto found_active;
             if (cmp < 0)                                          /* unlikely */
                 goto comparison_error;
             if (table != so->table || entry->key != startkey)     /* unlikely */
                 goto restart;
-            if (cmp > 0)                                          /* likely */
-                goto found_active;
             mask = so->mask;                 /* help avoid a register spill */
         }
         else if (entry->hash == -1 && freeslot == NULL)
@@ -200,12 +200,12 @@
                     Py_INCREF(startkey);
                     cmp = PyObject_RichCompareBool(startkey, key, Py_EQ);
                     Py_DECREF(startkey);
+                    if (cmp > 0)
+                        goto found_active;
                     if (cmp < 0)
                         goto comparison_error;
                     if (table != so->table || entry->key != startkey)
                         goto restart;
-                    if (cmp > 0)
-                        goto found_active;
                     mask = so->mask;
                 }
                 else if (entry->hash == -1 && freeslot == NULL)