diff --git a/examples/c/encode/file/main.c b/examples/c/encode/file/main.c
index b12d32b1..1066dc37 100644
--- a/examples/c/encode/file/main.c
+++ b/examples/c/encode/file/main.c
@@ -109,11 +109,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: out of memory or tag error\n");
 			ok = false;
-		}
+		} else {
 
-		metadata[1]->length = 1234; /* set the padding length */
+			metadata[1]->length = 1234; /* set the padding length */
 
-		ok = FLAC__stream_encoder_set_metadata(encoder, metadata, 2);
+			ok = FLAC__stream_encoder_set_metadata(encoder, metadata, 2);
+
+                }
 	}
 
 	/* initialize encoder */
diff --git a/examples/cpp/encode/file/main.cpp b/examples/cpp/encode/file/main.cpp
index 7d44b873..c66922c4 100644
--- a/examples/cpp/encode/file/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/cpp/encode/file/main.cpp
@@ -117,11 +117,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: out of memory or tag error\n");
 			ok = false;
-		}
+		} else {
 
-		metadata[1]->length = 1234; /* set the padding length */
+			metadata[1]->length = 1234; /* set the padding length */
 
-		ok = encoder.set_metadata(metadata, 2);
+			ok = encoder.set_metadata(metadata, 2);
+
+                }
 	}
 
 	/* initialize encoder */