diff --git a/criu/files.c b/criu/files.c
index 7f4b90086..d317bc9ab 100644
--- a/criu/files.c
+++ b/criu/files.c
@@ -1553,8 +1553,10 @@ int inherit_fd_add(int fd, char *key)
 		inh_fd_max = fd;
 
 	inh->inh_id = xstrdup(key);
-	if (inh->inh_id == NULL)
+	if (inh->inh_id == NULL) {
+		xfree(inh);
 		return -1;
+	}
 
 	inh->inh_fd = fd;
 	list_add_tail(&inh->inh_list, &opts.inherit_fds);