diff --git a/src/util-plugin.c b/src/util-plugin.c
index 72c8fd1959..95125ce716 100644
--- a/src/util-plugin.c
+++ b/src/util-plugin.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ void SCPluginsLoad(const char *capture_plugin_name, const char *capture_plugin_a
                     InitPlugin(path);
                 }
             }
-            free(dir);
+            closedir(dir);
         } else {
             InitPlugin(plugin->val);
         }