diff --git a/src/shared/path-util.c b/src/shared/path-util.c
index ad9dc882b..ee87c7493 100644
--- a/src/shared/path-util.c
+++ b/src/shared/path-util.c
@@ -524,6 +524,9 @@ fallback:
                 return -errno;
         }
 
+        free(parent);
+        parent = NULL;
+
         r = path_get_parent(t, &parent);
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;