diff --git a/liblog/pmsg_writer.c b/liblog/pmsg_writer.c
index c1c068e..5e4ff98 100644
--- a/liblog/pmsg_writer.c
+++ b/liblog/pmsg_writer.c
@@ -285,6 +285,7 @@
                 __android_log_unlock();
             } else if (pmsgOpen() < 0) {
                 __android_log_unlock();
+                free(cp);
                 return -EBADF;
             }
         }