diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
index 6fbb0f742..073539886 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -1981,6 +1981,7 @@ void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
         sendPacket(pkt, priority, 0);
         writeOKFrame();
       } else {
+        _mgr->free(pkt);
         writeErrFrame(ERR_CODE_ILLEGAL_ARG);
       }
     } else {