diff --git a/include/pam_authenticate.hpp b/include/pam_authenticate.hpp
index f2c7356..3e5c691 100644
--- a/include/pam_authenticate.hpp
+++ b/include/pam_authenticate.hpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
     if (resp == nullptr)
     {
+        free(pass);
         return PAM_AUTH_ERR;
     }