diff --git a/grub-core/kern/dl.c b/grub-core/kern/dl.c
index 5f214e378..1841bf1f5 100644
--- a/grub-core/kern/dl.c
+++ b/grub-core/kern/dl.c
@@ -688,11 +688,9 @@ grub_dl_load_file (const char *filename)
   grub_file_close (file);
 
   mod = grub_dl_load_core (core, size);
+  grub_free (core);
   if (! mod)
-    {
-      grub_free (core);
-      return 0;
-    }
+    return 0;
 
   mod->ref_count--;
   return mod;