diff --git a/shallow.c b/shallow.c
index dcebc263d7..4bb1518dbc 100644
--- a/shallow.c
+++ b/shallow.c
@@ -51,12 +51,11 @@ int unregister_shallow(const struct object_id *oid)
 	int pos = commit_graft_pos(the_repository, oid);
 	if (pos < 0)
 		return -1;
-	if (pos + 1 < the_repository->parsed_objects->grafts_nr) {
-		free(the_repository->parsed_objects->grafts[pos]);
+	free(the_repository->parsed_objects->grafts[pos]);
+	if (pos + 1 < the_repository->parsed_objects->grafts_nr)
 		MOVE_ARRAY(the_repository->parsed_objects->grafts + pos,
 			   the_repository->parsed_objects->grafts + pos + 1,
 			   the_repository->parsed_objects->grafts_nr - pos - 1);
-	}
 	the_repository->parsed_objects->grafts_nr--;
 	return 0;
 }