diff --git a/test/dsets.c b/test/dsets.c
index c099f9eebe..7a25f03a2d 100644
--- a/test/dsets.c
+++ b/test/dsets.c
@@ -487,6 +487,8 @@ test_simple_io(const char *env_h5_drvr, hid_t fapl)
     return 0;
 
 error:
+    if(tconv_buf)
+        HDfree (tconv_buf);
     return -1;
 }