diff --git a/uc.c b/uc.c
index 0634f402..5f1d2f20 100644
--- a/uc.c
+++ b/uc.c
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ uc_err uc_open(uc_arch arch, uc_mode mode, uc_engine **result)
         }
 
         if (uc->init_arch == NULL) {
-            *result = uc;
+            free(uc);
             return UC_ERR_ARCH;
         }