diff --git a/src/strings.c b/src/strings.c
index 53e0171..120d393 100644
--- a/src/strings.c
+++ b/src/strings.c
@@ -1366,9 +1366,10 @@
 	    }
 	}
 
-	if (list_append_string(rettv->vval.v_list, converted_str, -1) == FAIL)
-	    break;
+	int ret = list_append_string(rettv->vval.v_list, converted_str, -1);
 	vim_free(converted_str);
+	if (ret == FAIL)
+	    break;
     }
 
 done: