diff --git a/prism_compile.c b/prism_compile.c
index 9b1f65e015..eff152bce7 100644
--- a/prism_compile.c
+++ b/prism_compile.c
@@ -10840,7 +10840,7 @@ pm_read_file(pm_string_t *string, const char *filepath)
         }
 
         size_t length = (size_t) len;
-        uint8_t *source = xmalloc(length);
+        uint8_t *source = malloc(length);
         memcpy(source, RSTRING_PTR(contents), length);
         *string = (pm_string_t) { .type = PM_STRING_OWNED, .source = source, .length = length };