diff --git a/wp-includes/user.php b/wp-includes/user.php
index 2456b46d1..63b5ec500 100644
--- a/wp-includes/user.php
+++ b/wp-includes/user.php
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ function wp_signon( $credentials = '' ) {
 	else
 		$credentials['remember'] = false;
 
+	do_action_ref_array('wp_authenticate', array(&$credentials['user_login'], &$credentials['user_password']));
+
 	// If no credential info provided, check cookie.
 	if ( empty($credentials['user_login']) && empty($credentials['user_password']) ) {
 			$user = wp_validate_auth_cookie();
@@ -42,8 +44,6 @@ function wp_signon( $credentials = '' ) {
 		return $error;
 	}
 
-	do_action_ref_array('wp_authenticate', array(&$credentials['user_login'], &$credentials['user_password']));
-
 	$user = wp_authenticate($credentials['user_login'], $credentials['user_password']);
 	if ( is_wp_error($user) )
 		return $user;