diff --git a/sql/mysqld.cc b/sql/mysqld.cc
index 98562b08a0b..4de27e2bfbe 100644
--- a/sql/mysqld.cc
+++ b/sql/mysqld.cc
@@ -7633,6 +7633,7 @@ static int fix_paths(void)
   {
     if (*opt_secure_file_priv == 0)
     {
+      my_free(opt_secure_file_priv);
       opt_secure_file_priv= 0;
     }
     else