diff --git a/mkdirpp.c b/mkdirpp.c
index 558ef50..8dd30ef 100644
--- a/mkdirpp.c
+++ b/mkdirpp.c
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ mkdir_and_parents(const char *path)
       p[i] = 0;
 
       if (do_dir(p) < 0) {
+        free(p);
         return 0;
       }