diff --git a/loadapi.c b/loadapi.c
index acf6f844..298ebf8e 100644
--- a/loadapi.c
+++ b/loadapi.c
@@ -42,10 +42,11 @@ gmk_eval (const char *buffer, const gmk_floc *floc)
   /* Preserve existing variable buffer context.  */
   char *pbuf;
   unsigned int plen;
+  char *s;
 
   install_variable_buffer (&pbuf, &plen);
 
-  char *s = xstrdup (buffer);
+  s = xstrdup (buffer);
   eval_buffer (s, floc);
   free (s);