diff --git a/buffer.c b/buffer.c
index 7b8b9a0..6214c44 100644
--- a/buffer.c
+++ b/buffer.c
@@ -133,9 +133,10 @@ buffer_length(buffer_t *self) {
 int
 buffer_resize(buffer_t *self, size_t n) {
   n = nearest_multiple_of(1024, n);
+  char* result = realloc(self->alloc, n + 1);
+  if (!result) return -1;
   self->len = n;
-  self->alloc = self->data = realloc(self->alloc, n + 1);
-  if (!self->alloc) return -1;
+  self->alloc = self->data = result;
   self->alloc[n] = '\0';
   return 0;
 }