diff --git a/library/bignum.c b/library/bignum.c
index 23a3f68..c26842f 100644
--- a/library/bignum.c
+++ b/library/bignum.c
@@ -1410,6 +1410,7 @@
      */
     mpi_montg_init( &mm, N );
     mpi_init( &RR ); mpi_init( &T );
+    mpi_init( &Apos );
     memset( W, 0, sizeof( W ) );
 
     i = mpi_msb( E );
@@ -1429,8 +1430,6 @@
      * Compensate for negative A (and correct at the end)
      */
     neg = ( A->s == -1 );
-
-    mpi_init( &Apos );
     if( neg )
     {
         MPI_CHK( mpi_copy( &Apos, A ) );