diff --git a/ponysay b/ponysay
index 42db27ab..179a491c 100755
--- a/ponysay
+++ b/ponysay
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ usage() {
 }
 
 say() {
+    # Ponies use UTF-8 drawing characters. Prevent a Perl warning.
+    export PERL_UNICODE=S
+
     exec "$cmd" -f "$pony" "${wrap:+-W$wrap}"
 }
 
@@ -60,10 +63,6 @@ if [[ ! -f $pony ]]; then
     pony="${ponies[$RANDOM%${#ponies[@]}]}"
 fi
 
-
-# Ponies use UTF-8 drawing characters. Prevent a Perl warning.
-export PERL_UNICODE=S
-
 if [[ -n "$*" ]]; then
   # Handle a message given via arguments
   say <<<"$*"