diff --git a/src/sftp.c b/src/sftp.c
index f98601ff..3b8e0985 100644
--- a/src/sftp.c
+++ b/src/sftp.c
@@ -3189,7 +3189,10 @@ sftp_attributes sftp_fstat(sftp_file file) {
   }
 
   if (msg->packet_type == SSH_FXP_ATTRS){
-    return sftp_parse_attr(file->sftp, msg->payload, 0);
+    sftp_attributes attr = sftp_parse_attr(file->sftp, msg->payload, 0);
+    sftp_message_free(msg);
+
+    return attr;
   } else if (msg->packet_type == SSH_FXP_STATUS) {
     status = parse_status_msg(msg);
     sftp_message_free(msg);