diff --git a/tools/bpf/bpftool/gen.c b/tools/bpf/bpftool/gen.c
index a3c4bb86c05a..ecbae47e66b8 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/bpftool/gen.c
+++ b/tools/bpf/bpftool/gen.c
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ static int codegen(const char *template, ...)
 		} else {
 			p_err("unrecognized character at pos %td in template '%s'",
 			      src - template - 1, template);
+			free(s);
 			return -EINVAL;
 		}
 	}
@@ -234,6 +235,7 @@ static int codegen(const char *template, ...)
 			if (*src != '\t') {
 				p_err("not enough tabs at pos %td in template '%s'",
 				      src - template - 1, template);
+				free(s);
 				return -EINVAL;
 			}
 		}