diff --git a/src/library/stats/R/arima.R b/src/library/stats/R/arima.R
index 55ce8a7d8b..3d260d75ef 100644
--- a/src/library/stats/R/arima.R
+++ b/src/library/stats/R/arima.R
@@ -291,15 +291,14 @@ arima <- function(x, order = c(0L, 0L, 0L),
             }
         }
         trarma <- .Call(C_ARIMA_transPars, init, arma, transform.pars)
+        mod <- makeARIMA(trarma[[1L]], trarma[[2L]], Delta, kappa, SSinit) # for armafn()
         res <- if(no.optim)
             list(convergence = 0, par = numeric(),
                  value = armafn(numeric(), as.logical(transform.pars)))
-        else {
-            mod <- makeARIMA(trarma[[1L]], trarma[[2L]], Delta, kappa, SSinit)
+        else
             optim(init[mask], armafn, method = optim.method,
                   hessian = TRUE, control = optim.control,
                   trans = as.logical(transform.pars))
-        }
         if(res$convergence > 0)
             warning(gettextf("possible convergence problem: optim gave code = %d",
                              res$convergence), domain = NA)
diff --git a/tests/reg-tests-1e.R b/tests/reg-tests-1e.R
index 4015270ce6..a439436517 100644
--- a/tests/reg-tests-1e.R
+++ b/tests/reg-tests-1e.R
@@ -1712,7 +1712,9 @@ if(length(iLA) && nzchar(La_version())) { cat("sessionInfo - La_* checking: ")
 
 ## arima(*, seasonal = <numeric>)
 (m <- tryCmsg( arima(presidents, order=c(2,0,1), seasonal=c(1, 0)) ))
+mlnx <- arima(lynx, order = c(0,1,0))
 stopifnot(exprs = {
+    all.equal(1922.636, mlnx$aic, tolerance = 1e-6) # failed for days
     grepl("'seasonal'", m, fixed=TRUE)
     !englishMsgs ||
     grepl("must be a non-negative numeric vector", m, fixed=TRUE)