diff --git a/src/generator.c b/src/generator.c
index f459aedc..83ff0ac9 100644
--- a/src/generator.c
+++ b/src/generator.c
@@ -230,11 +230,12 @@ static bool server_alive(ckpool_t *ckp, server_instance_t *si, bool pinging)
 	realloc_strcat(&userpass, si->pass);
 	dealloc(cs->auth);
 	cs->auth = http_base64(userpass);
-	dealloc(userpass);
 	if (!cs->auth) {
 		LOGWARNING("Failed to create base64 auth from %s", userpass);
+		dealloc(userpass);
 		return ret;
 	}
+	dealloc(userpass);
 
 	fd = connect_socket(cs->url, cs->port);
 	if (fd < 0) {