diff --git a/code/leak.c b/code/leak.c
index 061798b81..e764d20e3 100644
--- a/code/leak.c
+++ b/code/leak.c
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ main(void)
 	printf("main: start\n");
 	FILE *device = fopen(LKM_DEVICE, "r+");
 
+	printf("main: draining lower page free lists: %u objects\n",
+	    PIPE_BUFFER);
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < PIPE_BUFFER; i++) {
+		allocation_primitive(pipes[i]);
+	}
+
 	printf("main: fopen: %p\n", device);
 	if (!device) {
 		printf(
@@ -31,12 +37,6 @@ main(void)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
-	printf("main: draining lower page free lists: %u objects\n",
-	    PIPE_BUFFER);
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < PIPE_BUFFER; i++) {
-		allocation_primitive(pipes[i]);
-	}
-
 	fclose(device);
 	printf("main: done\n");
 }