diff --git a/src/rdkafka_cert.c b/src/rdkafka_cert.c
index 171b634f8d..e7ae2a81f0 100644
--- a/src/rdkafka_cert.c
+++ b/src/rdkafka_cert.c
@@ -277,7 +277,6 @@ static rd_kafka_cert_t *rd_kafka_cert_new(const rd_kafka_conf_t *conf,
                                         goto fail;
                                 }
 
-                                X509_free(x509);
                                 cnt++;
                         }