1 files changed, 8 insertions, 7 deletions
diff --git a/src/tool_paramhlp.c b/src/tool_paramhlp.c
index 9b6a0b1a9..af47516b6 100644
--- a/src/tool_paramhlp.c
+++ b/src/tool_paramhlp.c
@@ -58,16 +58,17 @@ struct getout *new_getout(struct OperationConfig *config)
 
 ParameterError file2string(char **bufp, FILE *file)
 {
-  char *ptr;
-  size_t alloc = 512;
-  size_t alloc_needed;
-  char *string = malloc(alloc);
-  if(!string)
-    return PARAM_NO_MEM;
-
+  char *string = NULL;
   if(file) {
+    char *ptr;
+    size_t alloc = 512;
+    size_t alloc_needed;
     char buffer[256];
     size_t stringlen = 0;
+    string = malloc(alloc);
+    if(!string)
+      return PARAM_NO_MEM;
+
     while(fgets(buffer, sizeof(buffer), file)) {
       size_t buflen;
       ptr = strchr(buffer, '\r');