--- metamail/metamail.c
+++ metamail/metamail.c	2009-10-20 16:14:51.919429334 +0200
@@ -1294,9 +1294,9 @@ struct MailcapEntry mc;
     struct part *PartsWritten=NULL;
     char *s, *cmd;
 
+    if (PrintingMode && !mc.printcommand) return(-1);
     cmd = malloc(CMDSIZE);
     if (!cmd) ExitWithError(nomem);
-    if (PrintingMode && !mc.printcommand) return(-1);
     BuildCommand(cmd, PrintingMode ? mc.printcommand : mc.command, TmpFileName, &UsedTmpFileName, &PartsWritten);
     if (DoDebug) fprintf(stderr, "Match!  Built command %s.\n", cmd);
     if (mc.copiousoutput && MaybePageOutput) {