diff --git a/gui/ThemeEngine.cpp b/gui/ThemeEngine.cpp
index 6c40001b262..6562a1d9227 100644
--- a/gui/ThemeEngine.cpp
+++ b/gui/ThemeEngine.cpp
@@ -757,8 +757,6 @@ bool ThemeEngine::loadDefaultXML() {
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	free(tmpXML);
-
 	_themeName = "ScummVM Classic Theme (Builtin Version)";
 	_themeId = "builtin";
 	_themeFile.clear();
@@ -766,6 +764,8 @@ bool ThemeEngine::loadDefaultXML() {
 	bool result = _parser->parse();
 	_parser->close();
 
+	free(tmpXML);
+
 	return result;
 #else
 	warning("The built-in theme is not enabled in the current build. Please load an external theme");