diff --git a/src/blitter/8bpp_optimized.cpp b/src/blitter/8bpp_optimized.cpp
index 802ee8c82d..8287035e8a 100644
--- a/src/blitter/8bpp_optimized.cpp
+++ b/src/blitter/8bpp_optimized.cpp
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ Sprite *Blitter_8bppOptimized::Encode(SpriteLoader::Sprite *sprite, Blitter::All
 	dest_sprite->x_offs = sprite->x_offs;
 	dest_sprite->y_offs = sprite->y_offs;
 	memcpy(dest_sprite->data, temp_dst, index);
+	free(temp_dst);
 
 	return dest_sprite;
 }