diff --git a/test/params_api_test.c b/test/params_api_test.c
index c1dbdad129..e47c2643ad 100644
--- a/test/params_api_test.c
+++ b/test/params_api_test.c
@@ -540,8 +540,10 @@ static int test_param_construct(void)
         || !TEST_true(OSSL_PARAM_set_utf8_string(cp, "abcdef"))
         || !TEST_size_t_eq(cp->return_size, sizeof("abcdef") - 1)
         || !TEST_true(OSSL_PARAM_get_utf8_string(cp, &bufp, 0))
-        || !TEST_str_eq(bufp, "abcdef"))
+        || !TEST_str_eq(bufp, "abcdef")) {
+        OPENSSL_free(bufp);
         goto err;
+    }
     OPENSSL_free(bufp);
     bufp = buf2;
     if (!TEST_true(OSSL_PARAM_get_utf8_string(cp, &bufp, sizeof(buf2)))