diff --git a/lib/vtls/openssl.c b/lib/vtls/openssl.c
index 58a014a4d7..52ebe671af 100644
--- a/lib/vtls/openssl.c
+++ b/lib/vtls/openssl.c
@@ -2819,6 +2819,7 @@ static CURLcode servercert(struct connectdata *conn,
 
   connssl->server_cert = SSL_get_peer_certificate(connssl->handle);
   if(!connssl->server_cert) {
+    BIO_free(mem);
     if(!strict)
       return CURLE_OK;