diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index 8b71d59..5f3a656 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -5134,11 +5134,12 @@ irc_process_numeric (struct server *s,
 		// Join the parameter vector back, recode it to our internal encoding
 		// and send it to the server buffer
 		char *reconstructed = join_str_vector (&copy, ' ');
-		str_vector_free (&copy);
 		buffer_send (s->ctx, buffer, BUFFER_LINE_STATUS, 0,
 			.text = irc_to_utf8 (s->ctx, reconstructed));
 		free (reconstructed);
 	}
+
+	str_vector_free (&copy);
 }
 
 static void