diff --git a/src/quickfix.c b/src/quickfix.c
index ea7f580..e65e431 100644
--- a/src/quickfix.c
+++ b/src/quickfix.c
@@ -4934,6 +4934,9 @@
 	 * location list */
 	qf_info_T *new_ll = ll_new_list();
 
+	/* first free the list reference in the location list window */
+	ll_free_all(&orig_wp->w_llist_ref);
+
 	orig_wp->w_llist_ref = new_ll;
 	if (llwin != NULL)
 	{