diff --git a/src/journal/journal-vacuum.c b/src/journal/journal-vacuum.c
index c73ad8f39..8d5effb45 100644
--- a/src/journal/journal-vacuum.c
+++ b/src/journal/journal-vacuum.c
@@ -278,6 +278,8 @@ int journal_directory_vacuum(
                         } else if (errno != ENOENT)
                                 log_warning("Failed to delete %s/%s: %m", directory, p);
 
+                        free(p);
+
                         continue;
                 }