diff --git a/src/import/ImportPCM.cpp b/src/import/ImportPCM.cpp
index d8eef3273..d4f6eb0cb 100644
--- a/src/import/ImportPCM.cpp
+++ b/src/import/ImportPCM.cpp
@@ -451,17 +451,16 @@ ProgressResult PCMImportFileHandle::Import(TrackFactory *trackFactory,
       if (maxBlock < 1)
          return ProgressResult::Failed;
 
-      SampleBuffer srcbuffer;
+      SampleBuffer srcbuffer, buffer;
       wxASSERT(mInfo.channels >= 0);
-      while (NULL == srcbuffer.Allocate(maxBlock * mInfo.channels, mFormat).ptr())
+      while (NULL == srcbuffer.Allocate(maxBlock * mInfo.channels, mFormat).ptr() ||
+             NULL == buffer.Allocate(maxBlock, mFormat).ptr())
       {
          maxBlock /= 2;
          if (maxBlock < 1)
             return ProgressResult::Failed;
       }
 
-      SampleBuffer buffer(maxBlock, mFormat);
-
       decltype(fileTotalFrames) framescompleted = 0;
 
       long block;