diff --git a/src/vim9expr.c b/src/vim9expr.c
index 43b13d8..97a7f4e 100644
--- a/src/vim9expr.c
+++ b/src/vim9expr.c
@@ -1561,7 +1561,10 @@
     if (d == NULL)
 	return FAIL;
     if (generate_ppconst(cctx, ppconst) == FAIL)
+    {
+	dict_unref(d);
 	return FAIL;
+    }
     for (;;)
     {
 	char_u	    *key = NULL;