diff --git a/vector/v.to.rast/do_areas.c b/vector/v.to.rast/do_areas.c
index c3be7f5c18d..413ab8346d4 100644
--- a/vector/v.to.rast/do_areas.c
+++ b/vector/v.to.rast/do_areas.c
@@ -94,13 +94,14 @@ int sort_areas(struct Map_info *Map, struct line_pnts *Points, int field,
     CELL cat;
 
     G_begin_polygon_area_calculations();
-    Cats = Vect_new_cats_struct();
 
     /* first count valid areas */
     nareas = Vect_get_num_areas(Map);
     if (nareas == 0)
         return 0;
 
+    Cats = Vect_new_cats_struct();
+
     /* allocate list to hold valid area info */
     list = (struct list *)G_calloc(nareas * sizeof(char), sizeof(struct list));
 
@@ -155,6 +156,7 @@ int sort_areas(struct Map_info *Map, struct line_pnts *Points, int field,
         /* sort the list by size */
         qsort(list, nareas * sizeof(char), sizeof(struct list), compare);
     }
+    Vect_destroy_cats_struct(Cats);
 
     return nareas_selected;
 }