diff --git a/libdasd/dasd_sys.c b/libdasd/dasd_sys.c
index 020b52d0..a11a565f 100644
--- a/libdasd/dasd_sys.c
+++ b/libdasd/dasd_sys.c
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ int dasd_sys_ese(char *devnode)
 
 	rc = fgetc(fp) - '0';
 	fclose(fp);
+	free(path);
 
 	return (rc == 1) ? 1 : 0;
 }