diff --git a/.tmux.status-helpers.sh b/.tmux.status-helpers.sh
index 8cfb001..210a34a 100644
--- a/.tmux.status-helpers.sh
+++ b/.tmux.status-helpers.sh
@@ -2,10 +2,6 @@
 # helpers for tmux status line scripts
 
 function get_bgcolor_gradient_red_to_cyan() {
-  local curval=${1:-0}
-  local maxval=${2:-100}
-  local maxindex=$(( ${#colors[@]} - 1 ))
-  local index=$(( (curval * maxindex) / maxval ))
   local -a colors
   colors=(
     196 # red
@@ -16,6 +12,10 @@ function get_bgcolor_gradient_red_to_cyan() {
     047 048 049 050 # green-cyans
     051 # cyan
   )
+  local curval=${1:-0}
+  local maxval=${2:-100}
+  local maxindex=$(( ${#colors[@]} - 1 ))
+  local index=$(( (curval * maxindex) / maxval ))
   if [[ $index -gt $maxindex ]]; then
     index=$maxindex
   elif [[ $index -lt 0 ]]; then