diff --git a/src/option.c b/src/option.c
index f0fca6f..1bb9e29 100644
--- a/src/option.c
+++ b/src/option.c
@@ -853,7 +853,10 @@
 
     opt_idx = findoption((char_u *)name);
     if (opt_idx < 0)
+    {
+	vim_free(p);
 	return;
+    }
 
     if (options[opt_idx].flags & P_DEF_ALLOCED)
 	vim_free(options[opt_idx].def_val[VI_DEFAULT]);