diff --git a/lib/curl_threads.c b/lib/curl_threads.c
index 97527807ea..d40e024c87 100644
--- a/lib/curl_threads.c
+++ b/lib/curl_threads.c
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ curl_thread_t Curl_thread_create(unsigned int (*func) (void*), void *arg)
   return t;
 
 err:
-  free(t);
-  free(ac);
+  Curl_safefree(t);
+  Curl_safefree(ac);
   return curl_thread_t_null;
 }