diff --git a/orte/runtime/orte_init_stage1.c b/orte/runtime/orte_init_stage1.c
index 2ef790e24e..53213efac7 100644
--- a/orte/runtime/orte_init_stage1.c
+++ b/orte/runtime/orte_init_stage1.c
@@ -233,6 +233,9 @@ int orte_init_stage1(bool infrastructure)
 
     /* if I'm the seed, set the seed uri to be me! */
     if (orte_process_info.seed) {
+        if (NULL != orte_universe_info.seed_uri) {
+            free(orte_universe_info.seed_uri);
+        }
         orte_universe_info.seed_uri = orte_rml.get_uri();
     }