diff --git a/src/gpio/gpio.c b/src/gpio/gpio.c
index 7486483..2a78aef 100644
--- a/src/gpio/gpio.c
+++ b/src/gpio/gpio.c
@@ -270,6 +270,8 @@ mraa_gpio_chardev_init(int pins[], int num_pins)
         return NULL;
     }
 
+    dev->gpio_group = gpio_group;
+
     for (int i = 0; i < dev->num_chips; ++i) {
         gpio_group[i].gpio_chip = i;
         /* Just to be sure realloc has the desired behaviour. */
@@ -381,8 +383,6 @@ mraa_gpio_chardev_init(int pins[], int num_pins)
     }
     free(counters);
 
-    dev->gpio_group = gpio_group;
-
     /* Save the provided array from the user to our internal structure. */
     dev->provided_pins = malloc(dev->num_pins * sizeof(int));
     if (dev->provided_pins == NULL) {