diff --git a/glnx-xattrs.c b/glnx-xattrs.c
index 892d5343..785ad0e4 100644
--- a/glnx-xattrs.c
+++ b/glnx-xattrs.c
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ get_xattrs_impl (const char      *path,
         {
           if (errno == ERANGE)
             {
-              g_free (xattr_names);
+              g_free (g_steal_pointer (&xattr_names));
               goto again;
             }
           glnx_set_prefix_error_from_errno (error, "%s", "llistxattr");