diff --git a/contracts/token/ERC721/ERC721.sol b/contracts/token/ERC721/ERC721.sol
index 428338d900c..9d0034f2669 100644
--- a/contracts/token/ERC721/ERC721.sol
+++ b/contracts/token/ERC721/ERC721.sol
@@ -111,7 +111,6 @@ contract ERC721 is Context, ERC165, IERC721, IERC721Metadata {
      */
     function approve(address to, uint256 tokenId) public virtual override {
         address owner = ERC721.ownerOf(tokenId);
-        require(to != owner, "ERC721: approval to current owner");
 
         require(
             _msgSender() == owner || isApprovedForAll(owner, _msgSender()),
@@ -364,8 +363,10 @@ contract ERC721 is Context, ERC165, IERC721, IERC721Metadata {
      * Emits an {Approval} event.
      */
     function _approve(address to, uint256 tokenId) internal virtual {
+        address owner = ERC721.ownerOf(tokenId);
+        require(to != owner, "ERC721: approval to current owner");
         _tokenApprovals[tokenId] = to;
-        emit Approval(ERC721.ownerOf(tokenId), to, tokenId);
+        emit Approval(owner, to, tokenId);
     }
 
     /**