diff --git a/src/filemanager/cmd.c b/src/filemanager/cmd.c
index 3107a7275..1f6eb4c96 100644
--- a/src/filemanager/cmd.c
+++ b/src/filemanager/cmd.c
@@ -351,20 +351,24 @@ static void
 do_link (link_type_t link_type, const char *fname)
 {
     char *dest = NULL, *src = NULL;
-    vfs_path_t *fname_vpath, *dest_vpath = NULL;
+    vfs_path_t *dest_vpath = NULL;
 
-    fname_vpath = vfs_path_from_str (fname);
     if (link_type == LINK_HARDLINK)
     {
+        vfs_path_t *fname_vpath;
+
         src = g_strdup_printf (_("Link %s to:"), str_trunc (fname, 46));
         dest =
             input_expand_dialog (_("Link"), src, MC_HISTORY_FM_LINK, "", INPUT_COMPLETE_FILENAMES);
         if (dest == NULL || *dest == '\0')
             goto cleanup;
         save_cwds_stat ();
+
+        fname_vpath = vfs_path_from_str (fname);
         dest_vpath = vfs_path_from_str (dest);
         if (mc_link (fname_vpath, dest_vpath) == -1)
             message (D_ERROR, MSG_ERROR, _("link: %s"), unix_error_string (errno));
+        vfs_path_free (fname_vpath);
     }
     else
     {
@@ -409,7 +413,6 @@ do_link (link_type_t link_type, const char *fname)
     repaint_screen ();
 
   cleanup:
-    vfs_path_free (fname_vpath);
     vfs_path_free (dest_vpath);
     g_free (src);
     g_free (dest);