diff --git a/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.c b/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.c
index 25a4542a99e6..425f59137b88 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.c
@@ -400,6 +400,7 @@ auth_portal_new(struct auth_group *ag, const char *portal)
 	return (ap);
 
 error:
+	free(ap);
 	log_errx(1, "Incorrect initiator portal '%s'", portal);
 	return (NULL);
 }