diff --git a/hush.c b/hush.c
index 57b85d1bc..bb1397179 100644
--- a/hush.c
+++ b/hush.c
@@ -2166,6 +2166,7 @@ static int process_command_subs(o_string *dest, struct p_context *ctx, struct in
 	 * to the KISS philosophy of this program. */
 	mark_closed(fileno(p));
 	retcode=pclose(p);
+	free_pipe_list(inner.list_head,0);
 	debug_printf("pclosed, retcode=%d\n",retcode);
 	/* XXX this process fails to trim a single trailing newline */
 	return retcode;
diff --git a/shell/hush.c b/shell/hush.c
index 57b85d1bc..bb1397179 100644
--- a/shell/hush.c
+++ b/shell/hush.c
@@ -2166,6 +2166,7 @@ static int process_command_subs(o_string *dest, struct p_context *ctx, struct in
 	 * to the KISS philosophy of this program. */
 	mark_closed(fileno(p));
 	retcode=pclose(p);
+	free_pipe_list(inner.list_head,0);
 	debug_printf("pclosed, retcode=%d\n",retcode);
 	/* XXX this process fails to trim a single trailing newline */
 	return retcode;