diff --git a/lib/framework/SystemStatus.cpp b/lib/framework/SystemStatus.cpp
index 1a5c1c6df..017e5c723 100644
--- a/lib/framework/SystemStatus.cpp
+++ b/lib/framework/SystemStatus.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ SystemStatus::SystemStatus(AsyncWebServer * server, SecurityManager * securityMa
 }
 
 void SystemStatus::systemStatus(AsyncWebServerRequest * request) {
+    uint8_t free_mem_percent = emsesp::System::free_mem(); // added by proddy
+
     AsyncJsonResponse * response = new AsyncJsonResponse(false, MAX_ESP_STATUS_SIZE);
     JsonObject          root     = response->getRoot();
 #ifdef ESP32
@@ -39,7 +41,7 @@ void SystemStatus::systemStatus(AsyncWebServerRequest * request) {
 #endif
 
     root["uptime"]   = uuid::log::format_timestamp_ms(uuid::get_uptime_ms(), 3); // proddy added
-    root["free_mem"] = emsesp::System::free_mem(); // proddy added
+    root["free_mem"] = free_mem_percent;                                         // proddy added
 
     response->setLength();
     request->send(response);