diff --git a/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/firewire_dv/FireWireCard.cpp b/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/firewire_dv/FireWireCard.cpp
index e69f19a980..00bc261af5 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/firewire_dv/FireWireCard.cpp
+++ b/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/firewire_dv/FireWireCard.cpp
@@ -201,8 +201,10 @@ FireWireCard::DetectRecvFn()
 
 	buf = (char*)malloc(1024*16);
 	len = read(fDev, buf, 1024*16);
-	if (len < 0)
+	if (len < 0) {
+		free(buf);
 		return errno;
+	}
 	ptr = (u_int32_t*) buf;
 	ciph = (struct ciphdr*)(ptr + 1);