diff --git a/windows/init.cpp b/windows/init.cpp
index c91929f9..22874165 100644
--- a/windows/init.cpp
+++ b/windows/init.cpp
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ void uiUninit(void)
 void uiFreeInitError(const char *err)
 {
 	if (*(err - 1) == '-')
-		uiFree((void *) err);
+		uiFree((void *) (err - 1));
 }
 
 BOOL WINAPI DllMain(HINSTANCE hinstDLL, DWORD fdwReason, LPVOID lpvReserved)