diff --git a/display/d.barscale/draw_scale.c b/display/d.barscale/draw_scale.c
index c53a48ed576..64612b1cead 100644
--- a/display/d.barscale/draw_scale.c
+++ b/display/d.barscale/draw_scale.c
@@ -634,8 +634,12 @@ int draw_scale(double east, double north, int length, int seg, int units,
     }
     D_stroke();
 
-    if (fontsize < 0)
+    if (fontsize < 0) {
+        if (length != 0) {
+            G_free(label);
+        }
         return 0;
+    }
 
     /* draw the distance + units text */
 
@@ -676,6 +680,9 @@ int draw_scale(double east, double north, int length, int seg, int units,
         D_pos_abs(x_pos + 5 - (tr - tl), y_pos + ysize / 2 + (tt - tb) / 2);
         D_text(label);
     }
+    if (length != 0) {
+        G_free(label);
+    }
 
     return 0;
 }