diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/sort.c b/sys/src/cmd/sort.c
index 0cc207174..e613f185e 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/sort.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/sort.c
@@ -209,6 +209,8 @@ dofile(Biobuf *b)
 			free(ol);
 			ol = l;
 		}
+		free(ol->key);
+		free(ol);
 		return;
 	}