diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index c4ccb6b1a3..c5bc9bc512 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -2150,6 +2150,7 @@ static void diff_words_flush(struct emit_callback *ecbdata)
 
 		for (i = 0; i < wol->nr; i++)
 			free((void *)wol->buf[i].line);
+		free(wol->buf);
 
 		wol->nr = 0;
 	}