diff --git a/patch-ids.c b/patch-ids.c
index ce285c2e0c..660177875a 100644
--- a/patch-ids.c
+++ b/patch-ids.c
@@ -99,11 +99,12 @@ struct patch_id *has_commit_patch_id(struct commit *commit,
 struct patch_id *add_commit_patch_id(struct commit *commit,
 				     struct patch_ids *ids)
 {
-	struct patch_id *key = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*key));
+	struct patch_id *key;
 
 	if (!patch_id_defined(commit))
 		return NULL;
 
+	key = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*key));
 	if (init_patch_id_entry(key, commit, ids)) {
 		free(key);
 		return NULL;