diff --git a/src/fu-agent.c b/src/fu-agent.c
index 9329ec81b..c85b91166 100644
--- a/src/fu-agent.c
+++ b/src/fu-agent.c
@@ -340,10 +340,6 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	priv->loop = g_main_loop_new (NULL, FALSE);
 	priv->client = fwupd_client_new ();
 
-	/* set flags */
-	if (force)
-		priv->flags |= FWUPD_INSTALL_FLAG_FORCE;
-
 	/* add commands */
 	fu_util_cmd_array_add (cmd_array,
 			       "get-devices", NULL,
@@ -398,6 +394,10 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 				   fu_util_ignore_cb, NULL);
 	}
 
+	/* set flags */
+	if (force)
+		priv->flags |= FWUPD_INSTALL_FLAG_FORCE;
+
 	/* run the specified command */
 	ret = fu_util_cmd_array_run (cmd_array, priv, argv[1], (gchar**) &argv[2], &error);
 	if (!ret) {