diff --git a/krdc/vnc/rfbproto.c b/krdc/vnc/rfbproto.c
index 82aa9af2..c6e05c05 100644
--- a/krdc/vnc/rfbproto.c
+++ b/krdc/vnc/rfbproto.c
@@ -1143,8 +1143,10 @@ HandleRFBServerMessage()
       return False;
     }
 
-    if (!ReadFromRFBServer(serverCutText, msg.sct.length))
+    if (!ReadFromRFBServer(serverCutText, msg.sct.length)) {
+      free(serverCutText);
       return False;
+    }
 
     serverCutText[msg.sct.length] = 0;
     newServerCut(serverCutText, msg.sct.length); /* takes ownership of serverCutText */