diff --git a/opal/mca/base/mca_base_var_enum.c b/opal/mca/base/mca_base_var_enum.c
index 8e0599c3f7..b261c50115 100644
--- a/opal/mca/base/mca_base_var_enum.c
+++ b/opal/mca/base/mca_base_var_enum.c
@@ -514,6 +514,8 @@ static int enum_value_from_string_flag (mca_base_var_enum_t *self, const char *s
         }
     }
 
+    opal_argv_free (flags);
+
     *value_out = flag;
 
     return OPAL_SUCCESS;