diff --git a/builtin.c b/builtin.c
index 88663ebe..ba3459db 100644
--- a/builtin.c
+++ b/builtin.c
@@ -3330,8 +3330,9 @@ done:
 			return make_str_node(buf, textlen, ALREADY_MALLOCED);
 		} else if ((target->flags & STRING) == 0) {
 			/* return a copy of original string */
+			NODE *copy = make_str_node(target->stptr, target->stlen, 0);
 			DEREF(target);
-			return make_str_node(target->stptr, target->stlen, 0);
+			return copy;
 		}
 
 		/* return the original string */