diff --git a/lib/system/metrics/metrics.c b/lib/system/metrics/metrics.c
index 92d5e0d0f..1a978cca7 100644
--- a/lib/system/metrics/metrics.c
+++ b/lib/system/metrics/metrics.c
@@ -437,11 +437,13 @@ int
 lws_metric_destroy(lws_metric_t **pmt, int keep)
 {
 	lws_metric_t *mt = *pmt;
-	lws_metric_pub_t *pub = lws_metrics_priv_to_pub(mt);
+	lws_metric_pub_t *pub;
 
 	if (!mt)
 		return 0;
 
+	pub = lws_metrics_priv_to_pub(mt);
+
 	lws_dll2_remove(&mt->list);
 
 	if (keep) {