diff --git a/query/encode.go b/query/encode.go
index f877b1c..6359da8 100644
--- a/query/encode.go
+++ b/query/encode.go
@@ -125,6 +125,11 @@ type Encoder interface {
 // as multiple URL values of the same name.
 func Values(v interface{}) (url.Values, error) {
 	values := make(url.Values)
+
+	if v == nil {
+		return values, nil
+	}
+
 	val := reflect.ValueOf(v)
 	for val.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
 		if val.IsNil() {
@@ -133,10 +138,6 @@ func Values(v interface{}) (url.Values, error) {
 		val = val.Elem()
 	}
 
-	if v == nil {
-		return values, nil
-	}
-
 	if val.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("query: Values() expects struct input. Got %v", val.Kind())
 	}