diff --git a/channels/smartcard/client/smartcard_operations.c b/channels/smartcard/client/smartcard_operations.c
index 2403ce9af..867a339fb 100644
--- a/channels/smartcard/client/smartcard_operations.c
+++ b/channels/smartcard/client/smartcard_operations.c
@@ -323,12 +323,12 @@ static UINT32 smartcard_ListReadersA_Call(SMARTCARD_DEVICE* smartcard, SMARTCARD
 	smartcard_trace_list_readers_return(smartcard, &ret, FALSE);
 	status = smartcard_pack_list_readers_return(smartcard, irp->output, &ret);
 
-	if (status != SCARD_S_SUCCESS)
-		return status;
-
 	if (mszReaders)
 		SCardFreeMemory(operation->hContext, mszReaders);
 
+	if (status != SCARD_S_SUCCESS)
+		return status;
+
 	return ret.ReturnCode;
 }
 
@@ -371,15 +371,14 @@ static UINT32 smartcard_ListReadersW_Call(SMARTCARD_DEVICE* smartcard, SMARTCARD
 	}
 
 	smartcard_trace_list_readers_return(smartcard, &ret, TRUE);
-
 	status = smartcard_pack_list_readers_return(smartcard, irp->output, &ret);
 
-	if (status != SCARD_S_SUCCESS)
-		return status;
-
 	if (mszReaders)
 		SCardFreeMemory(operation->hContext, mszReaders);
 
+	if (status != SCARD_S_SUCCESS)
+		return status;
+
 	return ret.ReturnCode;
 }