diff --git a/lib/file.c b/lib/file.c
index 0edd3d972..05a1fde58 100644
--- a/lib/file.c
+++ b/lib/file.c
@@ -107,10 +107,15 @@ CURLcode Curl_file_connect(struct connectdata *conn)
   char *actual_path;
 #endif
 
-  file = (struct FILEPROTO *)calloc(sizeof(struct FILEPROTO), 1);
-  if(!file)
+  if(!real_path)
     return CURLE_OUT_OF_MEMORY;
 
+  file = (struct FILEPROTO *)calloc(sizeof(struct FILEPROTO), 1);
+  if(!file) {
+    free(real_path);
+    return CURLE_OUT_OF_MEMORY;
+  }
+
   conn->proto.file = file;
 
 #if defined(WIN32) || defined(__EMX__)