diff --git a/mercurial/cext/manifest.c b/mercurial/cext/manifest.c
--- a/mercurial/cext/manifest.c
+++ b/mercurial/cext/manifest.c
@@ -778,11 +778,11 @@
 		PyObject *outer;
 		/* If we're looking at a deleted entry and it's not
 		 * the end of the manifest, just skip it. */
-		if (left->deleted && sneedle < self->numlines) {
+		if (sneedle < self->numlines && left->deleted) {
 			sneedle++;
 			continue;
 		}
-		if (right->deleted && oneedle < other->numlines) {
+		if (oneedle < other->numlines && right->deleted) {
 			oneedle++;
 			continue;
 		}