diff --git a/window-customize.c b/window-customize.c
index 71ca206fb..a31acc8ba 100644
--- a/window-customize.c
+++ b/window-customize.c
@@ -740,8 +740,10 @@ window_customize_draw_option(struct window_customize_modedata *data,
 		if (strcmp(expanded, value) != 0) {
 			if (!screen_write_text(ctx, cx, sx, sy - (s->cy - cy),
 			    0, &grid_default_cell, "This expands to: %s",
-			    expanded))
+			    expanded)) {
+				free(expanded);
 				goto out;
+			}
 		}
 		free(expanded);
 	}