diff --git a/misc.c b/misc.c
index b431a67..e2620fa 100644
--- a/misc.c
+++ b/misc.c
@@ -171,7 +171,6 @@ char *
 escape_string(const char *input)
 {
     char *out = strdup(input);
-    int len = strlen(out);
     const char *esc = "\'\"\\ ";
 
     if (!out)
@@ -180,6 +179,8 @@ escape_string(const char *input)
         return NULL;
     }
 
+    int len = strlen(out);
+
     for (int pos = 0; pos < len; ++pos)
     {
         if (strchr(esc, out[pos]))