diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/filenames.py b/src/calibre/utils/filenames.py
index 54ce568539..d6193c068b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/filenames.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/filenames.py
@@ -259,10 +259,10 @@ def samefile(src, dst):
 
 def windows_hardlink(src, dest):
     import win32file, pywintypes
-    msg = u'Creating hardlink from %s to %s failed: %%s' % (src, dest)
     try:
         win32file.CreateHardLink(dest, src)
     except pywintypes.error as e:
+        msg = u'Creating hardlink from %s to %s failed: %%s' % (src, dest)
         raise Exception(msg % e)
     # We open and close dest, to ensure its directory entry is updated
     # see http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2011/12/26/10251026.aspx
@@ -273,6 +273,7 @@ def windows_hardlink(src, dest):
     win32file.CloseHandle(h)
 
     if sz != os.path.getsize(src):
+        msg = u'Creating hardlink from %s to %s failed: %%s' % (src, dest)
         raise Exception(msg % ('hardlink size: %d not the same as source size' % sz))
 
 class WindowsAtomicFolderMove(object):