diff --git a/lib/impure/nre.nim b/lib/impure/nre.nim
index 823cae1a33..5c5125ba10 100644
--- a/lib/impure/nre.nim
+++ b/lib/impure/nre.nim
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ proc extractOptions(pattern: string): tuple[pattern: string, flags: int, study:
 # }}}
 
 proc destroyRegex(pattern: Regex) =
-  pcre.free(pattern.pcreObj)
+  pcre.free_substring(cast[cstring](pattern.pcreObj))
   pattern.pcreObj = nil
   if pattern.pcreExtra != nil:
     pcre.free_study(pattern.pcreExtra)
diff --git a/lib/impure/re.nim b/lib/impure/re.nim
index 6f57185e66..4f32cd5fb9 100644
--- a/lib/impure/re.nim
+++ b/lib/impure/re.nim
@@ -60,9 +60,12 @@ proc rawCompile(pattern: string, flags: cint): ptr Pcre =
     raiseInvalidRegex($msg & "\n" & pattern & "\n" & spaces(offset) & "^\n")
 
 proc finalizeRegEx(x: Regex) =
-  pcre.free(x.h)
+  # XXX This is a hack, but PCRE does not export its "free" function properly.
+  # Sigh. The hack relies on PCRE's implementation (see ``pcre_get.c``).
+  # Fortunately the implementation is unlikely to change.
+  pcre.free_substring(cast[cstring](x.h))
   if not isNil(x.e):
-    pcre.free_study(x.e)
+    pcre.free_substring(cast[cstring](x.e))
 
 proc re*(s: string, flags = {reStudy}): Regex =
   ## Constructor of regular expressions.
diff --git a/lib/wrappers/pcre.nim b/lib/wrappers/pcre.nim
index b7975abb8f..c4bb24cfd0 100644
--- a/lib/wrappers/pcre.nim
+++ b/lib/wrappers/pcre.nim
@@ -341,8 +341,6 @@ proc compile2*(pattern: cstring,
                erroffset: ptr cint,
                tableptr: pointer): ptr Pcre
 
-proc free*(p: ptr Pcre)
-
 proc config*(what: cint,
              where: pointer): cint