diff --git a/gtests/net/packetdrill/run_packet.c b/gtests/net/packetdrill/run_packet.c
index beeada6bf509bc41b24d93a7fb51c309487a9276..0b8ca78c7bf011d9a3370c7f82208b54273c7741 100644
--- a/gtests/net/packetdrill/run_packet.c
+++ b/gtests/net/packetdrill/run_packet.c
@@ -3527,7 +3527,7 @@ int run_packet_event(
 	} else {
 		assert(!"bad direction");  /* internal bug */
 	}
-
+	free(err);
 	return STATUS_OK;	 /* everything went fine */
 
 out: