diff --git a/lib/libc/gen/fts-compat.c b/lib/libc/gen/fts-compat.c
index 73832e59ff1..02cad6c00dc 100644
--- a/lib/libc/gen/fts-compat.c
+++ b/lib/libc/gen/fts-compat.c
@@ -241,14 +241,15 @@ fts_close(sp)
 		(void)close(sp->fts_rfd);
 	}
 
-	/* Free up the stream pointer. */
-	free(sp);
-
 	/* Set errno and return. */
 	if (!ISSET(FTS_NOCHDIR) && saved_errno) {
+		/* Free up the stream pointer. */
+		free(sp);
 		errno = saved_errno;
 		return (-1);
 	}
+	/* Free up the stream pointer. */
+	free(sp);
 	return (0);
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/libc/gen/fts.c b/lib/libc/gen/fts.c
index 73832e59ff1..02cad6c00dc 100644
--- a/lib/libc/gen/fts.c
+++ b/lib/libc/gen/fts.c
@@ -241,14 +241,15 @@ fts_close(sp)
 		(void)close(sp->fts_rfd);
 	}
 
-	/* Free up the stream pointer. */
-	free(sp);
-
 	/* Set errno and return. */
 	if (!ISSET(FTS_NOCHDIR) && saved_errno) {
+		/* Free up the stream pointer. */
+		free(sp);
 		errno = saved_errno;
 		return (-1);
 	}
+	/* Free up the stream pointer. */
+	free(sp);
 	return (0);
 }