diff --git a/app/Livewire/EmailSubscribe.php b/app/Livewire/EmailSubscribe.php
index 5e312b9..6b1a8b9 100644
--- a/app/Livewire/EmailSubscribe.php
+++ b/app/Livewire/EmailSubscribe.php
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ class EmailSubscribe extends Component
 
     public function subscribe(): void
     {
+        $this->validate();
+
         // 1. Honeypot - if this hidden field is filled, treat as success but do nothing
         if (! empty($this->trap)) {
             $this->reset(['email', 'trap']);
@@ -67,9 +69,6 @@ class EmailSubscribe extends Component
         }
         session(['subscribe_attempts' => $attempts + 1]);
 
-
-        $this->validate();
-
         // Look up existing subscription by email
         $subscription = EmailSubscriptions::where('email', $this->email)->first();