diff --git a/string_list_special.c b/string_list_special.c
index 30aa27ff64..15ca065a28 100644
--- a/string_list_special.c
+++ b/string_list_special.c
@@ -234,6 +234,8 @@ struct string_list *string_list_new_special(enum string_list_type type,
    return s;
 
 error:
+   string_list_free(s);
+   s = NULL;
    return NULL;
 }