diff --git a/options.c b/options.c
index ea1ffb1..c240692 100644
--- a/options.c
+++ b/options.c
@@ -748,12 +748,18 @@
 		return 1;
 	}
 
+	free(nr);
+
 	if (td->o.random_distribution == FIO_RAND_DIST_ZIPF)
 		td->o.zipf_theta = val;
-	else
+	else {
+		if (val <= 0.00 || val >= 1.00) {
+			log_err("fio: pareto input out of range (0 < input < 1.0)\n");
+			return 1;
+		}
 		td->o.pareto_h = val;
+	}
 
-	free(nr);
 	return 0;
 }