diff --git a/src/tool_operate.c b/src/tool_operate.c
index ca1313eeb8..2c7d88a710 100644
--- a/src/tool_operate.c
+++ b/src/tool_operate.c
@@ -2599,6 +2599,7 @@ static CURLcode transfer_per_config(struct GlobalConfig *global,
             errorf(global, "out of memory");
             return CURLE_OUT_OF_MEMORY;
           }
+          curl_free(env);
           capath_from_env = true;
         }
         env = curlx_getenv("SSL_CERT_FILE");