diff --git a/ctl/string.cc b/ctl/string.cc
index a7552e86e..2879d2fcd 100644
--- a/ctl/string.cc
+++ b/ctl/string.cc
@@ -23,20 +23,19 @@
 
 namespace ctl {
 
-string::~string() noexcept
+void
+string::destroy_big() noexcept
 {
-    if (isbig()) {
-        auto* b = big();
-        if (b->n) {
-            if (b->n >= b->c)
-                __builtin_trap();
-            if (b->p[b->n])
-                __builtin_trap();
-        }
-        if (b->c && !b->p)
+    auto* b = big();
+    if (b->n) {
+        if (b->n >= b->c)
+            __builtin_trap();
+        if (b->p[b->n])
             __builtin_trap();
-        free(b->p);
     }
+    if (b->c && !b->p)
+        __builtin_trap();
+    free(b->p);
 }
 
 string::string(const char* s) noexcept : string()
diff --git a/ctl/string.h b/ctl/string.h
index 42fc14dc3..4776568dd 100644
--- a/ctl/string.h
+++ b/ctl/string.h
@@ -48,7 +48,12 @@ class string
     using const_iterator = const char*;
     static constexpr size_t npos = -1;
 
-    ~string() /* noexcept */;
+    ~string() /* noexcept */
+    {
+        if (isbig())
+            destroy_big();
+    }
+
     string(string_view) noexcept;
     string(const char*) noexcept;
     string(const string&) noexcept;
@@ -277,6 +282,8 @@ class string
     }
 
   private:
+    void destroy_big() noexcept;
+
     inline bool isbig() const noexcept
     {
         return *(blob + __::sso_max) & 0x80;