diff --git a/MAVProxy/modules/mavproxy_map/mp_slipmap_util.py b/MAVProxy/modules/mavproxy_map/mp_slipmap_util.py
index 88f7e0e342..aff9d6853e 100644
--- a/MAVProxy/modules/mavproxy_map/mp_slipmap_util.py
+++ b/MAVProxy/modules/mavproxy_map/mp_slipmap_util.py
@@ -357,11 +357,10 @@ def draw(self, img, pixmapper, bounds):
         (lat,lon,w,h) = bounds
         # note that w and h are in degrees
         spacing = 1000
+        lat2 = mp_util.constrain(lat+h*0.5,-85,85)
+        lon2 = mp_util.wrap_180(lon+w)
+        dist = mp_util.gps_distance(lat2,lon,lat2,lon2)
         while True:
-            start = mp_util.latlon_round((lat,lon), spacing)
-            lat2 = mp_util.constrain(lat+h*0.5,-85,85)
-            lon2 = mp_util.wrap_180(lon+w)
-            dist = mp_util.gps_distance(lat2,lon,lat2,lon2)
             count = int(dist / spacing)
             if count < 2:
                 spacing /= 10.0
@@ -372,6 +371,8 @@ def draw(self, img, pixmapper, bounds):
 
         count += 10
 
+        start = mp_util.latlon_round((lat,lon), spacing)
+
         for i in range(count):
             # draw vertical lines of constant longitude
             pos1 = mp_util.gps_newpos(start[0], start[1], 90, i*spacing)