diff --git a/core/plug-in/opus/opus.c b/core/plug-in/opus/opus.c
index 43031ee2..d76c3472 100644
--- a/core/plug-in/opus/opus.c
+++ b/core/plug-in/opus/opus.c
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ long opus_create(const char* format_parameters, const char** format_parameters_o
   codec_inst->opus_enc = opus_encoder_create(_OPUS_RATE,1,_OPUS_APPLICATION_,&error);
   if (error) {
     DBG("OPUS: error %d while creating encoder state.\n", error);
+    free(codec_inst);
     return -1;
   }