diff --git a/dali/c_api/c_api_test.cc b/dali/c_api/c_api_test.cc
index a671c63b79..802cd41b92 100644
--- a/dali/c_api/c_api_test.cc
+++ b/dali/c_api/c_api_test.cc
@@ -1119,6 +1119,7 @@ TEST(CApiTest, CheckpointingTest) {
   auto handle2 = CreateCheckpointingTestPipe();
   daliExternalContextCheckpoint restored_external_context{};
   daliRestoreFromSerializedCheckpoint(&handle2, cpt, n, &restored_external_context);
+  free(cpt);
   EXPECT_EQ(restored_external_context.epoch_idx, mock_external_context.epoch_idx);
   EXPECT_EQ(restored_external_context.iter, mock_external_context.iter);