diff --git a/source/lib/res/vfs.cpp b/source/lib/res/vfs.cpp
index 43273b5ad6..0661c3cd1e 100755
--- a/source/lib/res/vfs.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/res/vfs.cpp
@@ -129,6 +129,8 @@ static int path_validate(const uint line, const char* const path)
 	const char* msg = 0;	// error occurred <==> != 0
 	int err = -1;			// pass error code to caller
 
+	int c = 0, last_c;
+
 	// disallow absolute path for safety, in case of *nix systems.
 	if(path[0] == '/')
 	{
@@ -136,8 +138,6 @@ static int path_validate(const uint line, const char* const path)
 		goto fail;
 	}
 
-	int c = 0, last_c;
-
 	// scan each char in path string; count length.
 	for(;;)
 	{