diff --git a/src/tool_getparam.c b/src/tool_getparam.c
index bd989fada9..0cd11c4798 100644
--- a/src/tool_getparam.c
+++ b/src/tool_getparam.c
@@ -2303,7 +2303,8 @@ ParameterError parse_args(struct GlobalConfig *global, int argc,
                             config);
     }
 
-    curlx_unicodefree(orig_opt);
+    if(!result)
+      curlx_unicodefree(orig_opt);
   }
 
   if(result && result != PARAM_HELP_REQUESTED &&