diff --git a/src/nvim/api/buffer.c b/src/nvim/api/buffer.c
index 33ddacce69..4721045048 100644
--- a/src/nvim/api/buffer.c
+++ b/src/nvim/api/buffer.c
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ String buffer_get_line(Buffer buffer, Integer index, Error *err)
     rv = slice.items[0];
   }
 
+  free(slice.items);
+
   return rv;
 }