diff --git a/sys/cam/ctl/ctl.c b/sys/cam/ctl/ctl.c
index 1101d024f05e..bc94d437abd4 100644
--- a/sys/cam/ctl/ctl.c
+++ b/sys/cam/ctl/ctl.c
@@ -2445,6 +2445,7 @@ ctl_copyin_args(int num_args, struct ctl_be_arg *uargs,
 			 && (tmpptr[args[i].vallen - 1] != '\0')) {
 				snprintf(error_str, error_str_len, "Argument "
 				    "%d value is not NUL-terminated", i);
+				free(tmpptr, M_CTL);
 				goto bailout;
 			}
 			args[i].kvalue = tmpptr;