diff --git a/lib/luks2/luks2_disk_metadata.c b/lib/luks2/luks2_disk_metadata.c
index 0500d5c7..d58dd8d4 100644
--- a/lib/luks2/luks2_disk_metadata.c
+++ b/lib/luks2/luks2_disk_metadata.c
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ static int hdr_read_disk(struct crypt_device *cd,
 	if (hdr_checksum_check(cd, hdr_disk->checksum_alg, hdr_disk,
 				*json_area, hdr_json_size)) {
 		log_dbg(cd, "LUKS2 header checksum error (offset %" PRIu64 ").", offset);
+		free(*json_area);
+		*json_area = NULL;
 		r = -EINVAL;
 	}
 	memset(hdr_disk->csum, 0, LUKS2_CHECKSUM_L);