diff --git a/src/Fl_Widget.cxx b/src/Fl_Widget.cxx
index 321a39a..a8be544 100644
--- a/src/Fl_Widget.cxx
+++ b/src/Fl_Widget.cxx
@@ -282,11 +282,11 @@ Fl_Widget::label(const char *a) {
 
 void
 Fl_Widget::copy_label(const char *a) {
-  if (flags() & COPIED_LABEL) free((void *)(label_.value));
-
   if ( ( !a || !label_.value ) || strcmp( a, label_.value ) )
       redraw_label();
 
+  if (flags() & COPIED_LABEL) free((void *)(label_.value));
+
   if (a) {
     set_flag(COPIED_LABEL);
     label_.value=strdup(a);
@@ -294,6 +294,7 @@ Fl_Widget::copy_label(const char *a) {
     clear_flag(COPIED_LABEL);
     label_.value=(char *)0;
   }
+
 }
 
 /** Calls the widget callback.