diff --git a/src/f_finale.c b/src/f_finale.c
index 5c8eb5514..82f85aedd 100644
--- a/src/f_finale.c
+++ b/src/f_finale.c
@@ -1461,12 +1461,12 @@ void F_TitleScreenTicker(boolean run)
 
 			if (vLump == NULL)
 			{
-				vres_Free(vRes);
 
 				if (((W_CheckNumForName(va("%sS%02u", mapheaderinfo[mapnum]->lumpname, numstaff)))) != LUMPERROR)
 					sprintf(dname, "%sS%02u", mapheaderinfo[mapnum]->lumpname, numstaff);
 				else
 				{
+					vres_Free(vRes);
 					return;
 				}
 			}