diff --git a/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c b/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c
index c90b756945e3..620032042576 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c
+++ b/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c
@@ -501,6 +501,7 @@ static int do_build_table_cb(const char *fpath, const struct stat *sb,
 	if (err) {
 		p_err("failed to append entry to hashmap for ID %u, path '%s': %s",
 		      pinned_info.id, path, strerror(errno));
+		free(path);
 		goto out_close;
 	}