diff --git a/ruby/ext/google/protobuf_c/message.c b/ruby/ext/google/protobuf_c/message.c
index 59602cf0899d..d07eba760d23 100644
--- a/ruby/ext/google/protobuf_c/message.c
+++ b/ruby/ext/google/protobuf_c/message.c
@@ -1012,7 +1012,6 @@ static VALUE Message_decode_json(int argc, VALUE* argv, VALUE klass) {
  */
 static VALUE Message_encode(VALUE klass, VALUE msg_rb) {
   Message* msg = ruby_to_Message(msg_rb);
-  upb_arena *arena = upb_arena_new();
   const char *data;
   size_t size;
 
@@ -1020,6 +1019,8 @@ static VALUE Message_encode(VALUE klass, VALUE msg_rb) {
     rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "Message of wrong type.");
   }
 
+  upb_arena *arena = upb_arena_new();
+
   data = upb_encode(msg->msg, upb_msgdef_layout(msg->msgdef), arena,
                     &size);