diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 892e14a..f13486f 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -6855,6 +6855,10 @@
     abort = abort || set_ref_in_python3(copyID);
 #endif
 
+#ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+    abort = abort || set_ref_in_channel(copyID);
+#endif
+
     if (!abort)
     {
 	/*
@@ -9842,6 +9846,7 @@
 	return;
 
     ch_idx = send_common(argvars, text, "sendexpr");
+    vim_free(text);
     if (ch_idx >= 0)
     {
 	if (channel_read_json_block(ch_idx, id, &listtv) == OK)