diff --git a/grep.c b/grep.c
index 701e58de04..e9337f32cb 100644
--- a/grep.c
+++ b/grep.c
@@ -756,6 +756,7 @@ static struct grep_expr *grep_splice_or(struct grep_expr *x, struct grep_expr *y
 		assert(x->node == GREP_NODE_OR);
 		if (x->u.binary.right &&
 		    x->u.binary.right->node == GREP_NODE_TRUE) {
+			free(x->u.binary.right);
 			x->u.binary.right = y;
 			break;
 		}