diff --git a/stomp.c b/stomp.c
index a8d6a32..fba3466 100644
--- a/stomp.c
+++ b/stomp.c
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ int stomp_send(stomp_t *stomp, stomp_frame_t *frame TSRMLS_DC)
 		char error[1024];
 		snprintf(error, sizeof(error), "Unable to send data");
 		stomp_set_error(stomp, error, errno, NULL);
+		smart_str_free(&buf);
 		return 0;
 	}