diff --git a/internal/statements/query.go b/internal/statements/query.go
index 3ceaebd0..8ec2fa0f 100644
--- a/internal/statements/query.go
+++ b/internal/statements/query.go
@@ -269,14 +269,14 @@ func (statement *Statement) writeForUpdate(w io.Writer) error {
 }
 
 func (statement *Statement) writeMssqlPaginationCond(w *builder.BytesWriter) error {
-	if statement.RefTable == nil {
-		return errors.New("unsupported query limit without reference table")
-	}
-
 	if statement.dialect.URI().DBType != schemas.MSSQL || statement.Start <= 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if statement.RefTable == nil {
+		return errors.New("unsupported query limit without reference table")
+	}
+
 	mssqlCondi := builder.NewWriter()
 	if err := statement.writeTop(mssqlCondi); err != nil {
 		return err