diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/srmcons.c b/arch/alpha/kernel/srmcons.c
index 756923203860..85a821aaceb4 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/srmcons.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/srmcons.c
@@ -164,9 +164,9 @@ srmcons_get_private_struct(struct srmcons_private **ps)
 	int retval = 0;
 
 	if (srmconsp == NULL) {
+		srmconsp = kmalloc(sizeof(*srmconsp), GFP_KERNEL);
 		spin_lock_irqsave(&srmconsp_lock, flags);
 
-		srmconsp = kmalloc(sizeof(*srmconsp), GFP_KERNEL);
 		if (srmconsp == NULL)
 			retval = -ENOMEM;
 		else {