diff --git a/kuser/kimpersonate.c b/kuser/kimpersonate.c
index c26320851..e8f7e718e 100644
--- a/kuser/kimpersonate.c
+++ b/kuser/kimpersonate.c
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ encode_ticket (krb5_context context,
 	krb5_err (context, 1, ret, "encode_Ticket");
 
     krb5_data_copy(&cred->ticket, buf, len);
+    free(buf);
 }
 
 /*