diff --git a/src/file/SDL_rwops.c b/src/file/SDL_rwops.c
index ec4f5be8f..44b0e8407 100644
--- a/src/file/SDL_rwops.c
+++ b/src/file/SDL_rwops.c
@@ -628,8 +628,9 @@ SDL_AllocRW(void)
     area = (SDL_RWops *) SDL_malloc(sizeof *area);
     if (area == NULL) {
         SDL_OutOfMemory();
+    } else {
+        area->type = SDL_RWOPS_UNKNOWN;
     }
-    area->type = SDL_RWOPS_UNKNOWN;
     return (area);
 }