diff --git a/src/flb_pack_gelf.c b/src/flb_pack_gelf.c
index 883e489b7c4..241f2c24320 100644
--- a/src/flb_pack_gelf.c
+++ b/src/flb_pack_gelf.c
@@ -801,6 +801,7 @@ flb_sds_t flb_msgpack_raw_to_gelf(char *buf, size_t buf_size,
     msgpack_unpacked_init(&result);
     ret = msgpack_unpack_next(&result, buf, buf_size, &off);
     if (ret != MSGPACK_UNPACK_SUCCESS) {
+        msgpack_unpacked_destroy(&result);
         return NULL;
     }