diff --git a/lib/hostip4.c b/lib/hostip4.c
index f380d3ef8..b0196d15a 100644
--- a/lib/hostip4.c
+++ b/lib/hostip4.c
@@ -362,8 +362,8 @@ Curl_addrinfo *Curl_getaddrinfo(struct connectdata *conn,
   if(h) {
     ai = Curl_he2ai(h, port);
 
-    if (h == buf) /* used a *_r() function */
-      free(h);
+    if (buf) /* used a *_r() function */
+      free(buf);
   }
 
   return ai;