diff --git a/qemu-img.c b/qemu-img.c
index a9a2470e1a..ad04f59565 100644
--- a/qemu-img.c
+++ b/qemu-img.c
@@ -263,6 +263,7 @@ static int print_block_option_help(const char *filename, const char *fmt)
         if (!proto_drv->create_opts) {
             error_report("Protocol driver '%s' does not support image creation",
                          proto_drv->format_name);
+            qemu_opts_free(create_opts);
             return 1;
         }
         create_opts = qemu_opts_append(create_opts, proto_drv->create_opts);