diff --git a/src/tree.c b/src/tree.c
index b3d2ce93..7f466583 100644
--- a/src/tree.c
+++ b/src/tree.c
@@ -66,13 +66,13 @@ static Con *_create___i3(void) {
 bool tree_restore(const char *path, xcb_get_geometry_reply_t *geometry) {
     bool result = false;
     char *globbed = resolve_tilde(path);
+    char *buf = NULL;
 
     if (!path_exists(globbed)) {
         LOG("%s does not exist, not restoring tree\n", globbed);
         goto out;
     }
 
-    char *buf = NULL;
     ssize_t len;
     if ((len = slurp(globbed, &buf)) < 0) {
         /* slurp already logged an error. */