diff --git a/plugins/sudoers/file.c b/plugins/sudoers/file.c
index c83e91605..dc6713f1c 100644
--- a/plugins/sudoers/file.c
+++ b/plugins/sudoers/file.c
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ sudo_file_close(struct sudo_nss *nss)
 	free_userspecs(&handle->userspecs);
 	free_defaults(&handle->defaults);
 
+	free(handle);
 	nss->handle = NULL;
     }