diff --git a/src/lj_state.c b/src/lj_state.c
index 3cad8cc1..fb6d41a5 100644
--- a/src/lj_state.c
+++ b/src/lj_state.c
@@ -261,7 +261,11 @@ LUA_API lua_State *lua_newstate(lua_Alloc allocf, void *allocd)
   }
 #endif
   GG = (GG_State *)allocf(allocd, NULL, 0, sizeof(GG_State));
-  if (GG == NULL || !checkptrGC(GG)) return NULL;
+  if (GG == NULL) return NULL;
+  if (!checkptrGC(GG)) {
+    allocf(allocd, GG, sizeof(GG_State), 0);
+    return NULL;
+  }
   memset(GG, 0, sizeof(GG_State));
   L = &GG->L;
   g = &GG->g;