diff --git a/src/sp_config_utils.c b/src/sp_config_utils.c
index dbe6793a..18cdf034 100644
--- a/src/sp_config_utils.c
+++ b/src/sp_config_utils.c
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ zend_string *get_param(size_t *consumed, char *restrict line, sp_type type,
                original_line ? original_line : "NULL", sp_line_no);
   }
   line = NULL;
+  if (ret) {
+    zend_string_release(ret);
+  }
   return NULL;
 }