[Outreachy] Return value before or after free()?

Dear all,
in run-command.c file `exists_in_PATH()` function does this:

static int exists_in_PATH(const char *file)
{
char *r = locate_in_PATH(file);
free(r);
return r != NULL;
}

I wonder if it is correct to do return r != NULL; after free(r);

Could be this version more readable? :

static int exists_in_PATH(const char *file)
{
char *r = locate_in_PATH(file);
int res = (r != NULL);
free(r);
return res;
}

Could you please give me your feedback?

Thank you!

Best,
Miriam.