diff --git a/tools/lvmcmdline.c b/tools/lvmcmdline.c
index a96ef3c04..bedf9e2d1 100644
--- a/tools/lvmcmdline.c
+++ b/tools/lvmcmdline.c
@@ -1026,16 +1026,16 @@ int lvm_run_command(struct cmd_context *cmd, int argc, char **argv)
 	cmd->current_settings = cmd->default_settings;
 	_apply_settings(cmd);
 
-	/*
-	 * free off any memory the command used.
-	 */
-	dm_pool_empty(cmd->mem);
-
 	if (ret == EINVALID_CMD_LINE && !_cmdline.interactive)
 		_short_usage(cmd->command->name);
 
 	log_debug("Completed: %s", cmd->cmd_line);
 
+	/*
+	 * free off any memory the command used.
+	 */
+	dm_pool_empty(cmd->mem);
+
 	return ret;
 }