diff --git a/sys/netgraph/ng_split.c b/sys/netgraph/ng_split.c
index df85fe535b92..b7168f4224f2 100644
--- a/sys/netgraph/ng_split.c
+++ b/sys/netgraph/ng_split.c
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ ng_split_rcvdata(hook_p hook, item_p item)
 		NG_FWD_ITEM_HOOK(error, item, priv->out);
 	}
 
+	if (item)
+		NG_FREE_ITEM(item);
+
 	return (error);
 }