diff --git a/src/bin/pg_dump/parallel.c b/src/bin/pg_dump/parallel.c
index ceab58b157..7208b0fec2 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_dump/parallel.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_dump/parallel.c
@@ -922,6 +922,9 @@ WaitForCommands(ArchiveHandle *AH, int pipefd[2])
 			exit_horribly(modulename,
 						  "unrecognized command on communication channel: %s\n",
 						  command);
+
+		/* command was pg_malloc'd and we are responsible for free()ing it. */
+		free(command);
 	}
 }