diff --git a/src/zipr.cpp b/src/zipr.cpp
index 143c701c5696412f57a8ee86874291b746779190..39e39e427121e07f96b8a7a9fe7965538db929ad 100644
--- a/src/zipr.cpp
+++ b/src/zipr.cpp
@@ -818,12 +818,12 @@ void ZiprImpl_t::PlaceDollops()
 		count_pins++;
 	}
 
-	assert(getenv("SELF_VALIDATE")==nullptr || count_pins > 3 ) ;
-	assert(getenv("SELF_VALIDATE")==nullptr || placement_queue.size() > 15 ) ;
-
 	cout<<"# ATTRIBUTE Zipr::pins_detected="<<dec<<count_pins<<endl;
 	cout<<"# ATTRIBUTE Zipr::placement_queue_size="<<dec<<placement_queue.size()<<endl;
 
+	assert(getenv("SELF_VALIDATE")==nullptr || count_pins > 3 ) ;
+	assert(getenv("SELF_VALIDATE")==nullptr || placement_queue.size() > 15 ) ;
+
 	/* 
          * used to check if a reference dollop needs to be added to the placement queue
         */