1 files changed, 18 insertions, 21 deletions

diff --git a/awkgram.c b/awkgram.c
index 249fdcdf..adb31d9c 100644
--- a/awkgram.c
+++ b/awkgram.c
@@ -7052,22 +7052,6 @@ is_deferred_variable(const char *name)
 	return false;
 }
 
-/* variable_create --- create a new variable */
-NODE *
-variable_create(char *name, NODETYPE type, bool *is_deferred)
-{
-	struct deferred_variable *dv;
-
-	for (dv = deferred_variables; dv != NULL; dv = dv->next) {
-		if (strcmp(name, dv->name) == 0) {
-			efree(name);
-			*is_deferred = true;
-			return (*dv->load_func)();
-		}
-	}
-	*is_deferred = false;
-	return install_symbol(name, type);
-}
 
 /* variable --- make sure NAME is in the symbol table */
 
@@ -7075,7 +7059,6 @@ NODE *
 variable(int location, char *name, NODETYPE type)
 {
 	NODE *r;
-	bool is_deferred;
 
 	if ((r = lookup(name)) != NULL) {
 		if (r->type == Node_func || r->type == Node_ext_func )
@@ -7083,11 +7066,25 @@ variable(int location, char *name, NODETYPE type)
 				r->vname);
 		if (r == symbol_table)
 			symtab_used = true;
-		efree(name);
-		return r;
+	} else {
+		/* not found */
+		struct deferred_variable *dv;
+
+		for (dv = deferred_variables; true; dv = dv->next) {
+			if (dv == NULL) {
+				/*
+				 * This is the only case in which we may not free the string.
+				 */
+				return install_symbol(name, type);
+			}
+			if (strcmp(name, dv->name) == 0) {
+				r = (*dv->load_func)();
+				break;
+			}
+		}
 	}
-	/* not found */
-	return variable_create(name, type, & is_deferred);
+	efree(name);
+	return r;
 }
 
 /* process_deferred --- if the program uses SYMTAB, load deferred variables */