diff --git a/ext/gd/gd.c b/ext/gd/gd.c
index e15bb529be8..ee6a5ca71b0 100644
--- a/ext/gd/gd.c
+++ b/ext/gd/gd.c
@@ -3350,8 +3350,8 @@ static void php_imagechar(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS, int mode)
 	if (!ZEND_FETCH_RESOURCE_NO_RETURN(im, gdImagePtr, &IM, -1, "Image", le_gd)) {
 		if (str_type == IS_UNICODE) {
 			efree(str.s);
-			RETURN_FALSE;
 		}
+		RETURN_FALSE;
 	}
 
 	font = php_find_gd_font(size TSRMLS_CC);