diff --git a/xkb/ddxList.c b/xkb/ddxList.c
index 2256424d0..39bd7397a 100644
--- a/xkb/ddxList.c
+++ b/xkb/ddxList.c
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ char	tmpname[PATH_MAX];
 	}
 	if (!in) {
 	    haveDir= FALSE;
+	    free(buf);
 	    buf = Xprintf(
 		"'%s/xkbcomp' '-R%s/%s' -w %ld -l -vlfhpR '%s'" W32_tmparg,
                 XkbBinDirectory,XkbBaseDirectory,componentDirs[what],(long)
@@ -176,6 +177,7 @@ char	tmpname[PATH_MAX];
 	}
 	if (!in) {
 	    haveDir= FALSE;
+	    free(buf);
 	    buf = Xprintf(
 		"xkbcomp -R%s -w %ld -l -vlfhpR '%s'" W32_tmparg,
                 componentDirs[what],(long)