diff --git a/src/news_gui.cpp b/src/news_gui.cpp
index b959d52fdb..9b2a5dcb5a 100644
--- a/src/news_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/news_gui.cpp
@@ -723,8 +723,6 @@ static void DeleteNewsItem(NewsItem *ni)
 		_latest_news = ni->prev;
 	}
 
-	free(ni->free_data);
-
 	if (_current_news == ni) _current_news = ni->prev;
 	_total_news--;
 	delete ni;
diff --git a/src/news_type.h b/src/news_type.h
index 8fbd904541..418334c73a 100644
--- a/src/news_type.h
+++ b/src/news_type.h
@@ -144,6 +144,11 @@ struct NewsItem {
 
 	void *free_data;             ///< Data to be freed when the news item has reached its end.
 
+	~NewsItem()
+	{
+		free(this->free_data);
+	}
+
 	uint64 params[10];
 };