diff --git a/src/vars.c b/src/vars.c
index 477a14632..aa8bf185d 100644
--- a/src/vars.c
+++ b/src/vars.c
@@ -510,6 +510,8 @@ int vars_check_arg(struct arg *arg, char **err)
 			     err);
 	if (!name)
 		return 0;
+	free(arg->data.str.area);
+	arg->data.str.area = NULL;
 
 	/* Use the global variable name pointer. */
 	arg->type = ARGT_VAR;