diff --git a/src/stdlib/SDL_string.c b/src/stdlib/SDL_string.c
index 7353d45912..b36fda42d1 100644
--- a/src/stdlib/SDL_string.c
+++ b/src/stdlib/SDL_string.c
@@ -1989,6 +1989,7 @@ int SDL_vasprintf(char **strp, const char *fmt, va_list ap)
 
         /* Check error code */
         if (retval < 0) {
+            SDL_free(p);
             return retval;
         }
 
@@ -2010,5 +2011,3 @@ int SDL_vasprintf(char **strp, const char *fmt, va_list ap)
         }
     }
 }
-
-/* vi: set ts=4 sw=4 expandtab: */