diff --git a/drivers/net/tap/rte_eth_tap.c b/drivers/net/tap/rte_eth_tap.c
index 7f74b5dc98..f8a4169c5f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/tap/rte_eth_tap.c
+++ b/drivers/net/tap/rte_eth_tap.c
@@ -2118,7 +2118,7 @@ tap_mp_attach_queues(const char *port_name, struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 		process_private->rxq_fds[queue] = reply->fds[fd_iterator++];
 	for (queue = 0; queue < reply_param->txq_count; queue++)
 		process_private->txq_fds[queue] = reply->fds[fd_iterator++];
-
+	free(reply);
 	return 0;
 }