diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index 72154cf7..c1df1ffd 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -541,6 +541,7 @@ int ssh_options_set(ssh_session session, enum ssh_options_e type,
             }
             rc = ssh_list_prepend(session->opts.identity, q);
             if (rc < 0) {
+                free(q);
                 return -1;
             }
             break;