diff --git a/usr.bin/ctags/tree.c b/usr.bin/ctags/tree.c
index 6c42f32c79a8..bd65c5a88f3c 100644
--- a/usr.bin/ctags/tree.c
+++ b/usr.bin/ctags/tree.c
@@ -126,10 +126,12 @@ add_node(NODE *node, NODE *cur_node)
 static void
 free_tree(NODE *node)
 {
+	NODE *node_next;
 	while (node) {
 		if (node->right)
 			free_tree(node->right);
+		node_next = node->left;
 		free(node);
-		node = node->left;
+		node = node_next;
 	}
 }