diff --git a/client/src/fileutils.c b/client/src/fileutils.c
index 65f193647..028db71e0 100644
--- a/client/src/fileutils.c
+++ b/client/src/fileutils.c
@@ -676,16 +676,16 @@ int saveFileJSONroot(const char *preferredName, void *root, size_t flags, bool v
 
     int res = json_dump_file(root, filename, flags);
 
-    free(filename);    
-
     if ( res == 0 ) {
         if (verbose) {
             PrintAndLogEx(SUCCESS, "saved to json file " _YELLOW_("%s"), filename);
         }
+        free(filename);    
         return PM3_SUCCESS;
     } else {
         PrintAndLogEx(FAILED, "error: can't save the file: " _YELLOW_("%s"), filename);
     }
+    free(filename);    
     return PM3_EFILE;
 }