diff --git a/lib/src/clixon_datastore_write.c b/lib/src/clixon_datastore_write.c
index 7954d0c4..47d9b40b 100644
--- a/lib/src/clixon_datastore_write.c
+++ b/lib/src/clixon_datastore_write.c
@@ -330,6 +330,8 @@ check_identityref(cxobj     *x0,
  ok:
     retval = 0;
  done:
+    if (prefix)
+	free(prefix);
     return retval;
 }