diff --git a/cores/esp8266/umm_malloc/umm_malloc.c b/cores/esp8266/umm_malloc/umm_malloc.c
index 9a06332c39..030042a1fc 100644
--- a/cores/esp8266/umm_malloc/umm_malloc.c
+++ b/cores/esp8266/umm_malloc/umm_malloc.c
@@ -1632,9 +1632,9 @@ static void *_umm_realloc( void *ptr, size_t size ) {
 
     if( (ptr = _umm_malloc( size )) ) {
       memcpy( ptr, oldptr, curSize );
+      _umm_free( oldptr );
     }
 
-    _umm_free( oldptr );
   }
 
   /* Release the critical section... */