diff --git a/src/pki_gcrypt.c b/src/pki_gcrypt.c
index ab83228e..06bf1a38 100644
--- a/src/pki_gcrypt.c
+++ b/src/pki_gcrypt.c
@@ -1105,6 +1105,7 @@ ssh_string pki_publickey_to_blob(const ssh_key key)
                 goto fail;
             }
             ssh_string_fill(e, (char *) tmp, size);
+            gcry_sexp_release(sexp);
 
             sexp = gcry_sexp_find_token(key->rsa, "n", 0);
             if (sexp == NULL) {