diff --git a/library/ssl_msg.c b/library/ssl_msg.c
index 0b696dd561..0b1322d939 100644
--- a/library/ssl_msg.c
+++ b/library/ssl_msg.c
@@ -4918,6 +4918,9 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
     if( ssl == NULL || ssl->conf == NULL )
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_INPUT_DATA );
 
+    if( ssl->out_left != 0 )
+        return( mbedtls_ssl_flush_output( ssl ) );
+
     MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 2, ( "=> send alert message" ) );
     MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 3, ( "send alert level=%u message=%u", level, message ));
 
@@ -5790,9 +5793,6 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_close_notify( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
 
     MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 2, ( "=> write close notify" ) );
 
-    if( ssl->out_left != 0 )
-        return( mbedtls_ssl_flush_output( ssl ) );
-
     if( ssl->state == MBEDTLS_SSL_HANDSHAKE_OVER )
     {
         if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl,