diff --git a/ext/mysqlnd/mysqlnd_wireprotocol.c b/ext/mysqlnd/mysqlnd_wireprotocol.c
index 795e0cd410f..ff354eec3d9 100644
--- a/ext/mysqlnd/mysqlnd_wireprotocol.c
+++ b/ext/mysqlnd/mysqlnd_wireprotocol.c
@@ -2380,11 +2380,10 @@ mysqlnd_protocol_init(zend_bool persistent TSRMLS_DC)
 PHPAPI void
 mysqlnd_protocol_free(MYSQLND_PROTOCOL * const protocol TSRMLS_DC)
 {
-	zend_bool pers = protocol->persistent;
-
 	DBG_ENTER("mysqlnd_protocol_free");
 
 	if (protocol) {
+		zend_bool pers = protocol->persistent;
 		mnd_pefree(protocol, pers);
 	}
 	DBG_VOID_RETURN;