diff --git a/pcap-linux.c b/pcap-linux.c
index 86ce887..3c09617 100644
--- a/pcap-linux.c
+++ b/pcap-linux.c
@@ -1599,8 +1599,8 @@ get_if_flags(const char *name, bpf_u_int32 *flags, char *errbuf)
 				}
 			}
 			fclose(fh);
-			free(pathstr);
 		}
+		free(pathstr);
 	}
 
 #ifdef ETHTOOL_GLINK