diff --git a/gio/gapplication.c b/gio/gapplication.c
index 1c560e5..3720146 100644
--- a/gio/gapplication.c
+++ b/gio/gapplication.c
@@ -1091,6 +1091,7 @@
   if (!options)
     {
       g_printerr ("%s\n", error->message);
+      g_error_free (error);
       *exit_status = 1;
       return TRUE;
     }