diff --git a/examples/hogweed-benchmark.c b/examples/hogweed-benchmark.c
index 3fabe20719a3ac52958695febfddf0f757f6eed7..ebce9034125bbcb9f8d872900c90deae7c6846a6 100644
--- a/examples/hogweed-benchmark.c
+++ b/examples/hogweed-benchmark.c
@@ -612,7 +612,10 @@ bench_openssl_ecdsa_init (unsigned size)
 
   /* This curve isn't supported in this build of openssl */
   if (ctx->key == NULL)
-    return NULL;
+    {
+      free(ctx);
+      return NULL;
+    }
 
   if (!EC_KEY_generate_key( ctx->key))
     die ("Openssl EC_KEY_generate_key failed.\n");