diff --git a/simio_tracer.c b/simio_tracer.c
index e39c8a7..e4540ea 100644
--- a/simio_tracer.c
+++ b/simio_tracer.c
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ static struct simio_device *tracer_create(char **arg_text)
 	tr = malloc(sizeof(*tr));
 	if (!tr) {
 		pr_error("tracer: couldn't allocate memory");
+		free(history);
 		return NULL;
 	}