diff --git a/src/heap.c b/src/heap.c
index 417c19da..8465479e 100644
--- a/src/heap.c
+++ b/src/heap.c
@@ -108,9 +108,8 @@ static bool mi_heap_page_never_delayed_free(mi_heap_t* heap, mi_page_queue_t* pq
 
 static void mi_heap_collect_ex(mi_heap_t* heap, mi_collect_t collect)
 {
-  _mi_deferred_free(heap,collect > NORMAL);
   if (!mi_heap_is_initialized(heap)) return;
-
+  _mi_deferred_free(heap, collect > NORMAL);
 
   // collect (some) abandoned pages
   if (collect >= NORMAL && !heap->no_reclaim) {