diff --git a/src/win/win.c b/src/win/win.c
index 7fc83249b..cfbdab264 100644
--- a/src/win/win.c
+++ b/src/win/win.c
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ static rc_str_t	*lpRCstr2048,
 		*lpRCstr6144,
 		*lpRCstr7168;
 static int	vid_api_inited = 0;
+static wchar_t	*argbuf;
 
 
 static const struct {
@@ -280,7 +281,6 @@ static int
 ProcessCommandLine(wchar_t ***argw)
 {
     WCHAR *cmdline;
-    wchar_t *argbuf;
     wchar_t **args;
     int argc_max;
     int i, q, argc;
@@ -336,8 +336,6 @@ ProcessCommandLine(wchar_t ***argw)
     args[argc] = NULL;
     *argw = args;
 
-    free(argbuf);
-
     return(argc);
 }
 
@@ -383,6 +381,7 @@ WinMain(HINSTANCE hInst, HINSTANCE hPrev, LPSTR lpszArg, int nCmdShow)
 	if (source_hwnd)
 		PostMessage((HWND) (uintptr_t) source_hwnd, WM_HAS_SHUTDOWN, (WPARAM) 0, (LPARAM) hwndMain);
 
+	free(argbuf);
 	free(argw);
 	return(1);
     }
@@ -394,6 +393,7 @@ WinMain(HINSTANCE hInst, HINSTANCE hPrev, LPSTR lpszArg, int nCmdShow)
     /* Handle our GUI. */
     i = ui_init(nCmdShow);
 
+    free(argbuf);
     free(argw);
     return(i);
 }