diff --git a/lib/transfer.c b/lib/transfer.c
index 74d6b78b966a261271e0fef35f7a834fec1c5abb..57afd663667d4e439914bedada82e409ce3860ed 100644
--- a/lib/transfer.c
+++ b/lib/transfer.c
@@ -2498,11 +2498,13 @@ Curl_setup_transfer(
    )
 {
   struct connectdata *conn = (struct connectdata *)c_conn;
-  struct SessionHandle *data = conn->data;
+  struct SessionHandle *data;
 
   if(!conn)
     return CURLE_BAD_FUNCTION_ARGUMENT;
 
+  data = conn->data;
+
   DEBUGASSERT((sockindex <= 1) && (sockindex >= -1));
 
   /* now copy all input parameters */