diff --git a/broker/http_broker.go b/broker/http_broker.go
index c2ae4dda..3e9fbc54 100644
--- a/broker/http_broker.go
+++ b/broker/http_broker.go
@@ -560,11 +560,6 @@ func (h *httpBroker) Publish(topic string, msg *Message, opts ...PublishOption)
 
 	srv := func(s []*registry.Service, b []byte) {
 		for _, service := range s {
-			// only process if we have nodes
-			if len(service.Nodes) == 0 {
-				continue
-			}
-
 			var nodes []*registry.Node
 
 			for _, node := range service.Nodes {
@@ -581,6 +576,11 @@ func (h *httpBroker) Publish(topic string, msg *Message, opts ...PublishOption)
 				nodes = append(nodes, node)
 			}
 
+			// only process if we have nodes
+			if len(nodes) == 0 {
+				continue
+			}
+
 			switch service.Version {
 			// broadcast version means broadcast to all nodes
 			case broadcastVersion: