diff --git a/aucat/dev.c b/aucat/dev.c
index 5771f0b..5cdb07d 100644
--- a/aucat/dev.c
+++ b/aucat/dev.c
@@ -115,11 +115,6 @@ dev_new(char *path, unsigned mode,
 	struct dev *d;
 	unsigned *pnum, i;
 
-	d = malloc(sizeof(struct dev));
-	if (d == NULL) {
-		perror("malloc");
-		exit(1);
-	}
 	pnum = (mode & MODE_THRU) ? &dev_thrnum : &dev_sndnum;
 	if (*pnum == DEV_NMAX) {
 #ifdef DEBUG
@@ -128,6 +123,11 @@ dev_new(char *path, unsigned mode,
 #endif
 		return NULL;
 	}
+	d = malloc(sizeof(struct dev));
+	if (d == NULL) {
+		perror("malloc");
+		exit(1);
+	}
 	d->num = (*pnum)++;
 	if (mode & MODE_THRU)
 		d->num += DEV_NMAX;