diff --git a/numa.c b/numa.c
index 3c8005913f..402804bdf4 100644
--- a/numa.c
+++ b/numa.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ NodeInfo numa_info[MAX_NODES];
 
 void numa_set_mem_node_id(ram_addr_t addr, uint64_t size, uint32_t node)
 {
-    struct numa_addr_range *range = g_malloc0(sizeof(*range));
+    struct numa_addr_range *range;
 
     /*
      * Memory-less nodes can come here with 0 size in which case,
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ void numa_set_mem_node_id(ram_addr_t addr, uint64_t size, uint32_t node)
         return;
     }
 
+    range = g_malloc0(sizeof(*range));
     range->mem_start = addr;
     range->mem_end = addr + size - 1;
     QLIST_INSERT_HEAD(&numa_info[node].addr, range, entry);