diff --git a/base/runtime/heap_allocator.odin b/base/runtime/heap_allocator.odin
index e2667a78c..4dfe95393 100644
--- a/base/runtime/heap_allocator.odin
+++ b/base/runtime/heap_allocator.odin
@@ -42,8 +42,10 @@ heap_allocator_proc :: proc(allocator_data: rawptr, mode: Allocator_Mode,
 		ptr := uintptr(aligned_mem)
 		aligned_ptr := (ptr + uintptr(a)-1) & ~(uintptr(a)-1)
 		if allocated_mem == nil {
-			aligned_free(old_ptr)
-			aligned_free(allocated_mem)
+			// On failure nothing must be freed: heap_resize (realloc) leaves the
+			// original block intact, and on the copy/fresh path old_ptr has not
+			// been copied or freed yet. Freeing old_ptr here left the caller's
+			// pointer dangling, causing a later double free. (#7262)
 			return nil, .Out_Of_Memory
 		}