diff --git a/executables/nr-softmodem.c b/executables/nr-softmodem.c
index b188ead832..7a141be471 100644
--- a/executables/nr-softmodem.c
+++ b/executables/nr-softmodem.c
@@ -664,7 +664,8 @@ int main( int argc, char **argv ) {
 #define PACKAGE_VERSION "UNKNOWN-EXPERIMENTAL"
 #endif
   // strdup to put the sring in the core file for post mortem identification
-  LOG_I(HW, "Version: %s\n", strdup(PACKAGE_VERSION));
+  char *pckg = strdup(PACKAGE_VERSION);
+  LOG_I(HW, "Version: %s\n", pckg);
 
   // don't create if node doesn't connect to RRC/S1/GTP
   const ngran_node_t node_type = get_node_type();
@@ -819,6 +820,7 @@ int main( int argc, char **argv ) {
       RC.ru[ru_id]->ifdevice.trx_end_func(&RC.ru[ru_id]->ifdevice);
   }
 
+  free(pckg);
   logClean();
   printf("Bye.\n");
   return 0;