diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index 0031f1a226de968df47e9db229a3d2ed5ac46180..6c8ad362f17c8c610b44ecc3b162df35a9cdb4d0 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -1362,6 +1362,8 @@ void do_next_word(void)
 	current_x = 0;
     }
 
+    free(char_mb);
+
     if (current == NULL)
 	current = filebot;