diff --git a/src/core/or/sendme.c b/src/core/or/sendme.c
index 586d4d0ae0..baa57f4f25 100644
--- a/src/core/or/sendme.c
+++ b/src/core/or/sendme.c
@@ -204,10 +204,10 @@ sendme_is_valid(const circuit_t *circ, const uint8_t *cell_payload,
 
   /* Valid cell. */
   sendme_cell_free(cell);
-  return 1;
+  return true;
  invalid:
   sendme_cell_free(cell);
-  return 0;
+  return false;
 }
 
 /* Build and encode a version 1 SENDME cell into payload, which must be at
@@ -424,6 +424,12 @@ sendme_process_circuit_level(crypt_path_t *layer_hint,
   tor_assert(circ);
   tor_assert(cell_payload);
 
+  /* Validate the SENDME cell. Depending on the version, different validation
+   * can be done. An invalid SENDME requires us to close the circuit. */
+  if (!sendme_is_valid(circ, cell_payload, cell_payload_len)) {
+    return -END_CIRC_REASON_TORPROTOCOL;
+  }
+
   /* If we are the origin of the circuit, we are the Client so we use the
    * layer hint (the Exit hop) for the package window tracking. */
   if (CIRCUIT_IS_ORIGIN(circ)) {
@@ -448,13 +454,6 @@ sendme_process_circuit_level(crypt_path_t *layer_hint,
      * are rate limited. */
     circuit_read_valid_data(TO_ORIGIN_CIRCUIT(circ), cell_payload_len);
   } else {
-    /* Validate the SENDME cell. Depending on the version, different
-     * validation can be done. An invalid SENDME requires us to close the
-     * circuit. It is only done if we are the Exit of the circuit. */
-    if (!sendme_is_valid(circ, cell_payload, cell_payload_len)) {
-      return -END_CIRC_REASON_TORPROTOCOL;
-    }
-
     /* We aren't the origin of this circuit so we are the Exit and thus we
      * track the package window with the circuit object. */
     if ((circ->package_window + CIRCWINDOW_INCREMENT) >
diff --git a/src/test/test_relaycell.c b/src/test/test_relaycell.c
index 0623583511..d6372d3956 100644
--- a/src/test/test_relaycell.c
+++ b/src/test/test_relaycell.c
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ test_circbw_relay(void *arg)
   ASSERT_UNCOUNTED_BW();
 
   /* Sendme on circuit with non-full window: counted */
-  PACK_CELL(0, RELAY_COMMAND_SENDME, "Data1234");
+  PACK_CELL(0, RELAY_COMMAND_SENDME, "");
   circ->cpath->package_window = 900;
   connection_edge_process_relay_cell(&cell, TO_CIRCUIT(circ), edgeconn,
                                      circ->cpath);