diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts/chain/commands/AbstractPopulateActionForm.java b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts/chain/commands/AbstractPopulateActionForm.java
index 6c3431871..07d318ad9 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts/chain/commands/AbstractPopulateActionForm.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts/chain/commands/AbstractPopulateActionForm.java
@@ -59,9 +59,6 @@ protected boolean execute_(ActionContext actionCtx)
         ActionConfig actionConfig = actionCtx.getActionConfig();
         ActionForm actionForm = actionCtx.getActionForm();
 
-        // First determine if the request was cancelled
-        handleCancel(actionCtx, actionConfig, actionForm);
-
         // Is there a form bean for this request?
         if (actionForm == null) {
             return (false);
@@ -79,6 +76,9 @@ protected boolean execute_(ActionContext actionCtx)
             populate(actionCtx, actionConfig, actionForm);
         }
 
+        // Always handle cancel last, as it needs populate first
+        handleCancel(actionCtx, actionConfig, actionForm);
+
         return CONTINUE_PROCESSING;
     }
 
@@ -198,4 +198,4 @@ protected void handleCancel(ActionContext context,
             context.setCancelled(Boolean.FALSE);
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}