diff --git a/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/Source/Integration/Editor/Components/EditorActorComponent.cpp b/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/Source/Integration/Editor/Components/EditorActorComponent.cpp
index 7d5b7ade00..4b4685ebb1 100644
--- a/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/Source/Integration/Editor/Components/EditorActorComponent.cpp
+++ b/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/Source/Integration/Editor/Components/EditorActorComponent.cpp
@@ -435,19 +435,17 @@ namespace EMotionFX
 
         void EditorActorComponent::LaunchAnimationEditor(const AZ::Data::AssetId& assetId, const AZ::Data::AssetType&)
         {
+            // call to open must be done before LoadCharacter
+            const char* panelName = EMStudio::MainWindow::GetEMotionFXPaneName();
+            EBUS_EVENT(AzToolsFramework::EditorRequests::Bus, OpenViewPane, panelName);
+
             if (assetId.IsValid())
             {
                 AZ::Data::AssetId animgraphAssetId;
-                animgraphAssetId.SetInvalid();
                 EditorAnimGraphComponentRequestBus::EventResult(animgraphAssetId, GetEntityId(), &EditorAnimGraphComponentRequestBus::Events::GetAnimGraphAssetId);
                 AZ::Data::AssetId motionSetAssetId;
-                motionSetAssetId.SetInvalid();
                 EditorAnimGraphComponentRequestBus::EventResult(motionSetAssetId, GetEntityId(), &EditorAnimGraphComponentRequestBus::Events::GetMotionSetAssetId);
 
-                // call to open must be done before LoadCharacter
-                const char* panelName = EMStudio::MainWindow::GetEMotionFXPaneName();
-                EBUS_EVENT(AzToolsFramework::EditorRequests::Bus, OpenViewPane, panelName);
-
                 EMStudio::MainWindow* mainWindow = EMStudio::GetMainWindow();
                 if (mainWindow)
                 {