diff --git a/ompi/mca/mtl/mx/mtl_mx_send.c b/ompi/mca/mtl/mx/mtl_mx_send.c
index 18e5574ea0..cb91839c21 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/mtl/mx/mtl_mx_send.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/mtl/mx/mtl_mx_send.c
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ ompi_mtl_mx_send(struct mca_mtl_base_module_t* mtl,
                     where, mx_strerror(mx_return), peer_name);
 
         /* Free buffer if needed */
-        if(mtl_mx_request->free_after) { 
+        if(mtl_mx_request.free_after) { 
             free(mtl_mx_request.mx_segment[0].segment_ptr);
         }
         return OMPI_ERROR;
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ ompi_mtl_mx_send(struct mca_mtl_base_module_t* mtl,
     } while(!result);
 
     /* Free buffer if needed */
-    if(mtl_mx_request->free_after) { 
+    if(mtl_mx_request.free_after) { 
         free(mtl_mx_request.mx_segment[0].segment_ptr);
     }