diff --git a/tools/net/ynl/pyynl/ynl_gen_c.py b/tools/net/ynl/pyynl/ynl_gen_c.py
index 305f5696bc4f..662a925bd9e1 100755
--- a/tools/net/ynl/pyynl/ynl_gen_c.py
+++ b/tools/net/ynl/pyynl/ynl_gen_c.py
@@ -1399,9 +1399,9 @@ def write_func_lvar(self, local_vars):
 
     def write_func(self, qual_ret, name, body, args=None, local_vars=None):
         self.write_func_prot(qual_ret=qual_ret, name=name, args=args)
+        self.block_start()
         self.write_func_lvar(local_vars=local_vars)
 
-        self.block_start()
         for line in body:
             self.p(line)
         self.block_end()