diff --git a/includes/class-wc-checkout.php b/includes/class-wc-checkout.php
index ac19cd03099..6e030441fd0 100644
--- a/includes/class-wc-checkout.php
+++ b/includes/class-wc-checkout.php
@@ -563,8 +563,9 @@ class WC_Checkout {
 			}
 
 			if ( WC()->cart->needs_shipping() ) {
+				$shipping_country = WC()->customer->get_shipping_country();
 
-				if ( empty( WC()->customer->get_shipping_country() ) ) {
+				if ( empty( $shipping_country ) ) {
 					wc_add_notice( __( 'Please enter an address to continue.', 'woocommerce' ), 'error' );
 				} elseif ( ! in_array( WC()->customer->get_shipping_country(), array_keys( WC()->countries->get_shipping_countries() ) ) ) {
 					wc_add_notice( sprintf( __( 'Unfortunately <strong>we do not ship %s</strong>. Please enter an alternative shipping address.', 'woocommerce' ), WC()->countries->shipping_to_prefix() . ' ' . WC()->customer->get_shipping_country() ), 'error' );