diff --git a/usr.sbin/chown/chown.c b/usr.sbin/chown/chown.c
index 0b09813a7e63..e13235c3119e 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/chown/chown.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/chown/chown.c
@@ -290,6 +290,7 @@ chownerr(const char *file)
 			err(1, "malloc");
 		ngroups = getgroups(ngroups_max, groups);
 		while (--ngroups >= 0 && gid != groups[ngroups]);
+		free(groups);
 		if (ngroups < 0) {
 			warnx("you are not a member of group %s", gname);
 			return;