diff --git a/lib/librte_flow_classify/rte_flow_classify.c b/lib/librte_flow_classify/rte_flow_classify.c
index 639b0051f5..d5bcb35e1d 100644
--- a/lib/librte_flow_classify/rte_flow_classify.c
+++ b/lib/librte_flow_classify/rte_flow_classify.c
@@ -579,12 +579,12 @@ rte_flow_classify_table_entry_delete(struct rte_flow_classifier *cls,
 						&rule->u.key.key_del,
 						&rule->key_found,
 						&rule->entry);
-
+				if (ret == 0)
+					free(rule);
 				return ret;
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	free(rule);
 	return ret;
 }