diff --git a/src/treesit.c b/src/treesit.c
index b15d44fca01..cfa3721b5e7 100644
--- a/src/treesit.c
+++ b/src/treesit.c
@@ -617,10 +617,14 @@ treesit_load_language (Lisp_Object language_symbol,
   eassume (handle != NULL);
   dynlib_error ();
   TSLanguage *(*langfn) (void);
-  char *c_name = xstrdup (SSDATA (base_name));
-  treesit_symbol_to_c_name (c_name);
+  char *c_name;
   if (found_override)
     c_name = xstrdup (SSDATA (override_c_name));
+  else
+    {
+      c_name = xstrdup (SSDATA (base_name));
+      treesit_symbol_to_c_name (c_name);
+    }
   langfn = dynlib_sym (handle, c_name);
   xfree (c_name);
   error = dynlib_error ();