diff --git a/core/src/main/cpp/main/src/elf_util.cpp b/core/src/main/cpp/main/src/elf_util.cpp
index f8346c39..903fb159 100644
--- a/core/src/main/cpp/main/src/elf_util.cpp
+++ b/core/src/main/cpp/main/src/elf_util.cpp
@@ -248,9 +248,8 @@ bool ElfImg::findModuleBase() {
             }
         }
     }
-    if (buff) free(buff);
-
     if (!found) {
+        if (buff) free(buff);
         LOGE("failed to read load address for %s", elf.data());
         fclose(maps);
         return false;
@@ -260,6 +259,8 @@ bool ElfImg::findModuleBase() {
         LOGE("failed to read load address for %s", elf.data());
     }
 
+    if (buff) free(buff);
+
     fclose(maps);
 
     LOGD("get module base %s: %lx", elf.data(), load_addr);