diff --git a/Modules/_bsddb.c b/Modules/_bsddb.c
index 2df73fe..aad4d1f 100644
--- a/Modules/_bsddb.c
+++ b/Modules/_bsddb.c
@@ -4378,10 +4378,6 @@
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "|i:log_archive", &flags))
         return NULL;
 
-    list = PyList_New(0);
-    if (list == NULL)
-        return NULL;
-
     CHECK_ENV_NOT_CLOSED(self);
     MYDB_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS;
 #if (DBVER >= 40)
@@ -4394,6 +4390,13 @@
     MYDB_END_ALLOW_THREADS;
     RETURN_IF_ERR();
 
+    list = PyList_New(0);
+    if (list == NULL) {
+        if (log_list)
+            free(log_list);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
     if (log_list) {
         char **log_list_start;
         for (log_list_start = log_list; *log_list != NULL; ++log_list) {