diff --git a/midend.c b/midend.c
index e71c27e..f566251 100644
--- a/midend.c
+++ b/midend.c
@@ -1801,6 +1801,7 @@ static const char *midend_game_id_int(midend *me, const char *id, int defmode)
             newcurparams = me->ourgame->default_params();
         }
         me->ourgame->decode_params(newcurparams, par);
+        sfree(par);
         error = me->ourgame->validate_params(newcurparams, desc == NULL);
         if (error) {
             me->ourgame->free_params(newcurparams);
@@ -1876,8 +1877,6 @@ static const char *midend_game_id_int(midend *me, const char *id, int defmode)
         me->genmode = GOT_SEED;
     }
 
-    sfree(par);
-
     me->newgame_can_store_undo = false;
 
     return NULL;