diff --git a/dlls/crypt32/protectdata.c b/dlls/crypt32/protectdata.c
index d3e0034909..d86dd8e629 100644
--- a/dlls/crypt32/protectdata.c
+++ b/dlls/crypt32/protectdata.c
@@ -607,8 +607,7 @@ BOOL fill_protect_data(struct protect_data_t * pInfo, LPCWSTR szDataDescr,
     pInfo->hash_len=CRYPT32_PROTECTDATA_HASH_LEN;
 
     /* allocate memory to hold a salt */
-    pInfo->salt.cbData=CRYPT32_PROTECTDATA_SALT_LEN;
-    if ((pInfo->salt.pbData=CryptMemAlloc(pInfo->salt.cbData)))
+    if ((pInfo->salt.pbData=CryptMemAlloc(CRYPT32_PROTECTDATA_SALT_LEN)))
     {
         /* generate random salt */
         if (!CryptGenRandom(hProv, pInfo->salt.cbData, pInfo->salt.pbData))
@@ -617,6 +616,7 @@ BOOL fill_protect_data(struct protect_data_t * pInfo, LPCWSTR szDataDescr,
             free_protect_data(pInfo);
             return FALSE;
         }
+        pInfo->salt.cbData=CRYPT32_PROTECTDATA_SALT_LEN;
     }
 
     /* debug: show our salt */