diff --git a/nfq/nfqws.c b/nfq/nfqws.c
index ea6c0281..8242e237 100644
--- a/nfq/nfqws.c
+++ b/nfq/nfqws.c
@@ -2762,6 +2762,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		break;
 		case IDX_DPI_DESYNC_FAKEDSPLIT_PATTERN:
 		{
+			free(dp->fsplit_pattern);
 			if (!(dp->fsplit_pattern = malloc(dp->fsplit_pattern_size=32768)))
 			{
 				DLOG_ERR("out of memory\n");