diff --git a/libs/libc/netdb/lib_rexec.c b/libs/libc/netdb/lib_rexec.c
index fa9da4c2fb8..33735c60564 100644
--- a/libs/libc/netdb/lib_rexec.c
+++ b/libs/libc/netdb/lib_rexec.c
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ int rexec_af(FAR char **ahost, int inport, FAR const char *user,
 conn_out:
   close(sock);
 sock_out:
-  free(ahost);
+  free(*ahost);
 addr_out:
   freeaddrinfo(res);
   return -1;