diff --git a/src/win/pipe.c b/src/win/pipe.c
index bf605b10..1babe05c 100644
--- a/src/win/pipe.c
+++ b/src/win/pipe.c
@@ -1067,11 +1067,12 @@ int uv__pipe_accept(uv_pipe_t* server, uv_stream_t* client) {
 
     err = uv__tcp_xfer_import(
         (uv_tcp_t*) client, item->xfer_type, &item->xfer_info);
+    
+    uv__free(item);
+    
     if (err != 0)
       return err;
 
-    uv__free(item);
-
   } else {
     pipe_client = (uv_pipe_t*) client;
     uv__pipe_connection_init(pipe_client);