diff --git a/orte/tools/orterun/orterun.c b/orte/tools/orterun/orterun.c
index 75dce0981e..81fd22d3a9 100644
--- a/orte/tools/orterun/orterun.c
+++ b/orte/tools/orterun/orterun.c
@@ -402,6 +402,7 @@ int orterun(int argc, char *argv[])
      */
     if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_init(ORTE_INFRASTRUCTURE, ORTE_NON_BARRIER))) {
         ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
+        free(apps);
         return rc;
     }