diff --git a/wcap/wcap-decode.c b/wcap/wcap-decode.c
index 425ccff1..3dc7e6d7 100644
--- a/wcap/wcap-decode.c
+++ b/wcap/wcap-decode.c
@@ -120,8 +120,10 @@ wcap_decoder_create(const char *filename)
 		return NULL;
 
 	decoder->fd = open(filename, O_RDONLY);
-	if (decoder->fd == -1)
+	if (decoder->fd == -1) {
+		free(decoder);
 		return NULL;
+	}
 
 	fstat(decoder->fd, &buf);
 	decoder->size = buf.st_size;