diff --git a/load.c b/load.c
index c7f165f697..56dab418da 100644
--- a/load.c
+++ b/load.c
@@ -1015,7 +1015,7 @@ rb_require_internal(VALUE fname, int safe)
 	RUBY_DTRACE_HOOK(FIND_REQUIRE_RETURN, RSTRING_PTR(fname));
 
 	if (found) {
-            if (!path || !(path = rb_fstring(path), ftptr = load_lock(RSTRING_PTR(path)))) {
+            if (!path || !(ftptr = load_lock(RSTRING_PTR(path)))) {
 		result = 0;
 	    }
 	    else if (!*ftptr) {
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ rb_require_internal(VALUE fname, int safe)
 	}
     }
     EC_POP_TAG();
-    load_unlock(ftptr, !state);
+    if (ftptr) load_unlock(RSTRING_PTR(path), !state);
 
     rb_set_safe_level_force(saved.safe);
     if (state) {