diff --git a/elf/ldconfig.c b/elf/ldconfig.c
index 1037e8d0cf..b8893637f8 100644
--- a/elf/ldconfig.c
+++ b/elf/ldconfig.c
@@ -503,7 +503,11 @@ add_dir_1 (const char *line, const char *from_file, int from_line)
     entry->path[--i] = '\0';
 
   if (i == 0)
-    return;
+    {
+      free (entry->path);
+      free (entry);
+      return;
+    }
 
   char *path = entry->path;
   if (opt_chroot != NULL)