diff --git a/tools/relative.c b/tools/relative.c
index 4e3c7c4..97535fd 100644
--- a/tools/relative.c
+++ b/tools/relative.c
@@ -106,9 +106,7 @@ main(int ac, char *av[])
 {
 	const char *orig_what;
 	char   *what_p, *to_p, *res;
-
-	char   *what = xstrdup(av[1]);
-	char   *to = xstrdup(av[2]);
+	char   *what, *to;
 
 	if (ac < 3)
 	{
@@ -117,6 +115,9 @@ main(int ac, char *av[])
 		return 1;
 	}
 
+	what = xstrdup(av[1]);
+	to = xstrdup(av[2]);
+
 	orig_what = normalize(av[1]);
 	normalize(av[2]);