diff --git a/glib/gvariant-parser.c b/glib/gvariant-parser.c
index d02775a84..3379c4c6a 100644
--- a/glib/gvariant-parser.c
+++ b/glib/gvariant-parser.c
@@ -630,7 +630,6 @@ ast_array_get_pattern (AST    **array,
       merged = pattern_coalesce (pattern, tmp);
       g_free (pattern);
       pattern = merged;
-      g_free (tmp);
 
       if (merged == NULL)
         /* set coalescence implies pairwise coalescence (i think).
@@ -669,7 +668,10 @@ ast_array_get_pattern (AST    **array,
 
               j++;
             }
+
         }
+
+      g_free (tmp);
     }
 
   return pattern;