diff --git a/stepmania/src/NotesLoaderSM.cpp b/stepmania/src/NotesLoaderSM.cpp
index d5ec793ddc..158cfe424c 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/NotesLoaderSM.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/NotesLoaderSM.cpp
@@ -344,15 +344,15 @@ bool SMLoader::LoadFromSMFile( CString sPath, Song &out )
 
 		else if( 0==stricmp(sValueName,"NOTES") || 0==stricmp(sValueName,"NOTES2") )
 		{
-			Steps* pNewNotes = new Steps;
-			ASSERT( pNewNotes );
-
 			if( iNumParams < 7 )
 			{
 				LOG->Trace( "The song file '%s' is has %d fields in a #NOTES tag, but should have at least %d.", sPath.c_str(), iNumParams, 7 );
 				continue;
 			}
 
+			Steps* pNewNotes = new Steps;
+			ASSERT( pNewNotes );
+
 			LoadFromSMTokens( 
 				sParams[1], 
 				sParams[2], 
@@ -447,15 +447,15 @@ bool SMLoader::LoadEdit( CString sEditFilePath, ProfileSlot slot )
 				return false;
 			}
 
-			Steps* pNewNotes = new Steps;
-			ASSERT( pNewNotes );
-
 			if( iNumParams < 7 )
 			{
 				LOG->Trace( "The song file '%s' is has %d fields in a #NOTES tag, but should have at least %d.", sEditFilePath.c_str(), iNumParams, 7 );
 				continue;
 			}
 
+			Steps* pNewNotes = new Steps;
+			ASSERT( pNewNotes );
+
 			LoadFromSMTokens( 
 				sParams[1], sParams[2], sParams[3], sParams[4], sParams[5], sParams[6],
 				*pNewNotes);