diff --git a/ares_parse_a_reply.c b/ares_parse_a_reply.c
index 9301254..66d9bdf 100644
--- a/ares_parse_a_reply.c
+++ b/ares_parse_a_reply.c
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ int ares_parse_a_reply(const unsigned char *abuf, int alen,
       aptr += len;
       if (aptr + RRFIXEDSZ > abuf + alen)
         {
+          free(rr_name);
           status = ARES_EBADRESP;
           break;
         }
@@ -149,6 +150,7 @@ int ares_parse_a_reply(const unsigned char *abuf, int alen,
             {
               if (aptr + sizeof(struct in_addr) > abuf + alen)
               {
+                free(rr_name);
                 status = ARES_EBADRESP;
                 break;
               }
@@ -159,6 +161,7 @@ int ares_parse_a_reply(const unsigned char *abuf, int alen,
               struct ares_addrttl * const at = &addrttls[naddrs];
               if (aptr + sizeof(struct in_addr) > abuf + alen)
               {
+                free(rr_name);
                 status = ARES_EBADRESP;
                 break;
               }