diff --git a/ext/psych/psych_parser.c b/ext/psych/psych_parser.c
index 4b18c94761..ca196ddba4 100644
--- a/ext/psych/psych_parser.c
+++ b/ext/psych/psych_parser.c
@@ -292,6 +292,9 @@ static VALUE parse(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
     }
 
     while(!done) {
+	VALUE event_args[5];
+	VALUE start_line, start_column, end_line, end_column;
+
 	if(!yaml_parser_parse(parser, &event)) {
 	    VALUE exception;
 
@@ -302,9 +305,6 @@ static VALUE parse(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 	    rb_exc_raise(exception);
 	}
 
-	VALUE event_args[5];
-	VALUE start_line, start_column, end_line, end_column;
-
 	start_line = INT2NUM((long)event.start_mark.line);
 	start_column = INT2NUM((long)event.start_mark.column);
 	end_line = INT2NUM((long)event.end_mark.line);