diff --git a/src/m_npc.c b/src/m_npc.c
index c25e0bde..9e57f4d5 100644
--- a/src/m_npc.c
+++ b/src/m_npc.c
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ extern void mNpc_CopyAnimalMemory(Anmmem_c* dst, Anmmem_c* src) {
 */
 
 extern void mNpc_AddFriendship(Anmmem_c* memory, int amount) {
-    int friendship = memory->friendship + amount;
+    int friendship;
 
 /* @BUG - devs checked for memory being NULL *after* deferencing it */
 #ifdef BUGFIXES
@@ -371,6 +371,8 @@ extern void mNpc_AddFriendship(Anmmem_c* memory, int amount) {
     }
 #endif
 
+    friendship = memory->friendship + amount;
+
 
 #ifndef BUGFIXES
     if (memory == NULL) {