diff --git a/tools/libxl/libxl_event.c b/tools/libxl/libxl_event.c
index 6d1deced5e..5f539b122c 100644
--- a/tools/libxl/libxl_event.c
+++ b/tools/libxl/libxl_event.c
@@ -1340,7 +1340,10 @@ libxl__poller *libxl__poller_get(libxl_ctx *ctx)
     memset(p, 0, sizeof(*p));
 
     rc = libxl__poller_init(ctx, p);
-    if (rc) return NULL;
+    if (rc) {
+        free(p);
+        return NULL;
+    }
 
     return p;
 }