diff --git a/automl/tables/predict.v1beta1.js b/automl/tables/predict.v1beta1.js
index 5954004136d..2e144148094 100644
--- a/automl/tables/predict.v1beta1.js
+++ b/automl/tables/predict.v1beta1.js
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ async function main(
   modelId = 'YOUR_MODEL_ID',
   inputs = '[{"numberValue": 1}, {"stringValue": "value"}]'
 ) {
+  inputs = JSON.parse(inputs);
+
   // [START automl_tables_predict]
 
   /**
@@ -39,8 +41,6 @@ async function main(
   // Get the full path of the model.
   const modelFullId = automlClient.modelPath(projectId, computeRegion, modelId);
 
-  inputs = JSON.parse(inputs);
-
   async function predict() {
     // Set the payload by giving the row values.
     const payload = {