diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/xcb/qxcbxsettings.cpp b/src/plugins/platforms/xcb/qxcbxsettings.cpp
index c106bd00f8..1423c6262d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/xcb/qxcbxsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/xcb/qxcbxsettings.cpp
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ QXcbXSettings::QXcbXSettings(QXcbScreen *screen)
     xcb_intern_atom_reply_t *atom_reply = xcb_intern_atom_reply(screen->xcb_connection(),atom_cookie,&error);
     if (error) {
         qWarning() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "Failed to find XSETTINGS_S atom";
+        free(error);
         return;
     }
     xcb_atom_t selection_owner_atom = atom_reply->atom;
@@ -233,14 +234,15 @@ QXcbXSettings::QXcbXSettings(QXcbScreen *screen)
             xcb_get_selection_owner_reply(screen->xcb_connection(), selection_cookie, &error);
     if (error) {
         qWarning() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "Failed to get selection owner for XSETTINGS_S atom";
+        free(error);
         return;
     }
 
     d_ptr->x_settings_window = selection_result->owner;
+    free(selection_result);
     if (!d_ptr->x_settings_window) {
         return;
     }
-    free(selection_result);
 
     const uint32_t event = XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK;
     const uint32_t event_mask[] = { XCB_EVENT_MASK_STRUCTURE_NOTIFY|XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE };