diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index 1686743a0..7f0e9af89 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -1711,12 +1711,11 @@ void rewriteConfigMarkAsProcessed(struct rewriteConfigState *state, const char *
  * If the old file does not exist at all, an empty state is returned. */
 struct rewriteConfigState *rewriteConfigReadOldFile(char *path) {
     FILE *fp = fopen(path,"r");
-    struct rewriteConfigState *state = zmalloc(sizeof(*state));
-    char buf[CONFIG_MAX_LINE+1];
-    int linenum = -1;
-
     if (fp == NULL && errno != ENOENT) return NULL;
 
+    char buf[CONFIG_MAX_LINE+1];
+    int linenum = -1;
+    struct rewriteConfigState *state = zmalloc(sizeof(*state));
     state->option_to_line = dictCreate(&optionToLineDictType,NULL);
     state->rewritten = dictCreate(&optionSetDictType,NULL);
     state->numlines = 0;