diff --git a/subsys/net/lib/download_client/src/download_client.c b/subsys/net/lib/download_client/src/download_client.c
index 633687ddaa..9fd5d0a104 100644
--- a/subsys/net/lib/download_client/src/download_client.c
+++ b/subsys/net/lib/download_client/src/download_client.c
@@ -835,6 +835,7 @@ void download_thread(void *client, void *a, void *b)
 			rc = client_connect(dl);
 
 			if (rc) {
+				k_free(dl->buf);
 				continue;
 			}