diff --git a/server/core/adminusers.cc b/server/core/adminusers.cc
index 17e9d2868..8acd6902c 100644
--- a/server/core/adminusers.cc
+++ b/server/core/adminusers.cc
@@ -290,6 +290,7 @@ static USERS* load_users(const char *fname)
         {
             /** New format users */
             rval = users_from_json(json);
+            json_decref(json);
         }
         else
         {