diff --git a/inspect.lua b/inspect.lua
index 1040061..6137e3f 100644
--- a/inspect.lua
+++ b/inspect.lua
@@ -140,19 +140,13 @@ end
 function inspect.dump(rootObject, depth)
   depth = depth or math.huge
 
-  local buffer = {}
-  local blen   = 0 -- buffer length
-  local level  = 0
-  local maxIds = setmetatable({}, maxIdsMetaTable)
-  local ids    = setmetatable({}, idsMetaTable)
-
   local tableAppearances = countTableAppearances(rootObject)
 
-  local function down(f)
-    level = level + 1
-    f()
-    level = level - 1
-  end
+  local buffer = {}
+  local maxIds = setmetatable({}, maxIdsMetaTable)
+  local ids    = setmetatable({}, idsMetaTable)
+  local level  = 0
+  local blen   = 0 -- buffer length
 
   local function puts(...)
     local args = {...}
@@ -162,6 +156,12 @@ function inspect.dump(rootObject, depth)
     end
   end
 
+  local function down(f)
+    level = level + 1
+    f()
+    level = level - 1
+  end
+
   local function tabify()
     puts("\n", string.rep("  ", level))
   end