diff --git a/plugins/in_forward/fw_conn.c b/plugins/in_forward/fw_conn.c
index f9f79f55abe..45862f1eced 100644
--- a/plugins/in_forward/fw_conn.c
+++ b/plugins/in_forward/fw_conn.c
@@ -153,6 +153,8 @@ struct fw_conn *fw_conn_add(struct flb_connection *connection, struct flb_in_fw_
         ret = fw_prot_secure_forward_handshake_start(ctx->ins, connection, helo);
         if (ret != 0) {
             flb_free(helo);
+            flb_free(conn);
+
             return NULL;
         }