diff --git a/src/ex_cmds.c b/src/ex_cmds.c
index b23f158..c2b600c 100644
--- a/src/ex_cmds.c
+++ b/src/ex_cmds.c
@@ -6574,6 +6574,7 @@
     if (dirname == NULL || !mch_isdir(dirname))
     {
 	EMSG2(_("E150: Not a directory: %s"), eap->arg);
+	vim_free(dirname);
 	return;
     }