diff --git a/src/node_internals.h b/src/node_internals.h
index 9a96e042fc5cda..f89b60a4a8835a 100644
--- a/src/node_internals.h
+++ b/src/node_internals.h
@@ -190,16 +190,12 @@ static v8::MaybeLocal<v8::Object> New(Environment* env,
   char* src = reinterpret_cast<char*>(buf->out());
   const size_t len_in_bytes = buf->length() * sizeof(buf->out()[0]);
 
-  if (buf->IsAllocated())
+  if (buf->IsAllocated()) {
     ret = New(env, src, len_in_bytes);
-  else if (!buf->IsInvalidated())
-    ret = Copy(env, src, len_in_bytes);
-
-  if (ret.IsEmpty())
-    return ret;
-
-  if (buf->IsAllocated())
+    // new always takes ownership of src
     buf->Release();
+  } else if (!buf->IsInvalidated())
+    ret = Copy(env, src, len_in_bytes);
 
   return ret;
 }