diff --git a/repl/main.c b/repl/main.c
index 519b16e..7099cd4 100644
--- a/repl/main.c
+++ b/repl/main.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ unsigned char* readFile(char* path, int* size) {
 	//read the file
 	if (fread(buffer, sizeof(unsigned char), *size, file) < (unsigned int)(*size)) {
 		fclose(file);
+		free(buffer);
 		*size = -2; //singal a read error
 		return NULL;
 	}