diff --git a/aalpy/oracles/StatePrefixEqOracle.py b/aalpy/oracles/StatePrefixEqOracle.py
index 8e5f1c3214..2bb6d721ea 100644
--- a/aalpy/oracles/StatePrefixEqOracle.py
+++ b/aalpy/oracles/StatePrefixEqOracle.py
@@ -38,9 +38,6 @@ def __init__(self, alphabet: list, sul: SUL, walks_per_state=10, walk_len=12, ma
         self.freq_dict = dict()
 
     def find_cex(self, hypothesis):
-        if self.max_tests and self.num_queries == self.max_tests:
-            return None
-
         states_to_cover = []
         for state in hypothesis.states:
             if state.prefix is None:
@@ -62,6 +59,9 @@ def find_cex(self, hypothesis):
 
             self.reset_hyp_and_sul(hypothesis)
 
+            if self.max_tests and self.num_queries == self.max_tests:
+                return None
+
             prefix = state.prefix
             for p in prefix:
                 hypothesis.step(p)