diff --git a/hw/core/loader.c b/hw/core/loader.c
index 2f8105d7de..a3bea1e718 100644
--- a/hw/core/loader.c
+++ b/hw/core/loader.c
@@ -610,6 +610,7 @@ ssize_t gunzip(void *dst, size_t dstlen, uint8_t *src, size_t srclen)
     r = inflate(&s, Z_FINISH);
     if (r != Z_OK && r != Z_STREAM_END) {
         printf ("Error: inflate() returned %d\n", r);
+        inflateEnd(&s);
         return -1;
     }
     dstbytes = s.next_out - (unsigned char *) dst;