diff --git a/src/add-ons/translators/wonderbrush/support/bitmap_compression.cpp b/src/add-ons/translators/wonderbrush/support/bitmap_compression.cpp
index 41c1948df5..45e263d253 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/translators/wonderbrush/support/bitmap_compression.cpp
+++ b/src/add-ons/translators/wonderbrush/support/bitmap_compression.cpp
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ archive_bitmap(const BBitmap* bitmap, BMessage* into, const char* fieldName)
 				ret = into->AddRect("construction bounds", bitmap->Bounds());
 			if (ret >= B_OK)
 				ret = into->AddInt32("format", bitmap->ColorSpace());
+			free(buffer);
 		}
 	}
 	return ret;