diff --git a/oc2/ocinternal.c b/oc2/ocinternal.c
index 81953140f..5d2118a07 100644
--- a/oc2/ocinternal.c
+++ b/oc2/ocinternal.c
@@ -191,6 +191,9 @@ ocopen(OCstate** statep, const char* url)
 #endif
 
     if(statep) *statep = state;
+    else {
+      if(state != NULL) ocfree(state);
+    }
     return OCTHROW(stat);
 
 fail: