diff --git a/src/ex_getln.c b/src/ex_getln.c
index 38e0fe8..624bf1c 100644
--- a/src/ex_getln.c
+++ b/src/ex_getln.c
@@ -6252,7 +6252,10 @@
 	    NUL, eap->cookie, 0);
 
 	if (theline == NULL || STRCMP(end_pattern, theline) == 0)
+	{
+	    vim_free(theline);
 	    break;
+	}
 
 	ga_concat(&ga, theline);
 	ga_append(&ga, '\n');