diff --git a/dlls/riched20/editor.c b/dlls/riched20/editor.c
index bbb0cc01bc2..28c845cddef 100644
--- a/dlls/riched20/editor.c
+++ b/dlls/riched20/editor.c
@@ -1268,12 +1268,10 @@ static void ME_RTFReadShpPictGroup( RTF_Info *info )
 static DWORD read_hex_data( RTF_Info *info, BYTE **out )
 {
     DWORD read = 0, size = 1024;
-    BYTE *buf = HeapAlloc( GetProcessHeap(), 0, size );
-    BYTE val;
+    BYTE *buf, val;
     BOOL flip;
 
     *out = NULL;
-    if (!buf) return 0;
 
     if (info->rtfClass != rtfText)
     {
@@ -1281,6 +1279,9 @@ static DWORD read_hex_data( RTF_Info *info, BYTE **out )
         return 0;
     }
 
+    buf = HeapAlloc( GetProcessHeap(), 0, size );
+    if (!buf) return 0;
+
     val = info->rtfMajor;
     for (flip = TRUE;; flip = !flip)
     {