diff --git a/include/pam_authenticate.hpp b/include/pam_authenticate.hpp
index 3e5c691..12f19c0 100644
--- a/include/pam_authenticate.hpp
+++ b/include/pam_authenticate.hpp
@@ -25,15 +25,16 @@
 
     std::strncpy(pass, appPass, appPassSize + 1);
 
-    *resp = reinterpret_cast<pam_response*>(
-        calloc(static_cast<size_t>(numMsg), sizeof(struct pam_response)));
-
-    if (resp == nullptr)
+    void* ptr =
+        calloc(static_cast<size_t>(numMsg), sizeof(struct pam_response));
+    if (ptr == nullptr)
     {
         free(pass);
         return PAM_AUTH_ERR;
     }
 
+    *resp = reinterpret_cast<pam_response*>(ptr);
+
     for (int i = 0; i < numMsg; ++i)
     {
         /* Ignore all PAM messages except prompting for hidden input */