diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/shells/enter.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/shells/enter.rs
index 2a586c7104..3ec45ce736 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/shells/enter.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/shells/enter.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ impl Command for Enter {
         let path_span = new_path.span()?;
 
         let new_path = new_path.as_path()?;
+
+        let cwd = current_dir(engine_state, stack)?;
+        let new_path = nu_path::canonicalize_with(new_path, &cwd)?;
+
         if !new_path.exists() {
             return Err(ShellError::DirectoryNotFound(path_span));
         }
@@ -48,9 +52,6 @@ impl Command for Enter {
             ));
         }
 
-        let cwd = current_dir(engine_state, stack)?;
-        let new_path = nu_path::canonicalize_with(new_path, &cwd)?;
-
         let new_path = Value::String {
             val: new_path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
             span: call.head,