diff --git a/src/collection.c b/src/collection.c
index 6da0e2b0..b3b3a430 100644
--- a/src/collection.c
+++ b/src/collection.c
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ SEXP R_mongo_get_default_database(SEXP ptr_client) {
   mongoc_client_t *client = r2client(ptr_client);
   mongoc_database_t *db = mongoc_client_get_default_database(client);
   if(db){
-    return Rf_mkString(mongoc_database_get_name(db));
+    SEXP out = Rf_mkString(mongoc_database_get_name(db));
+    mongoc_database_destroy(db);
+    return out;
   } else {
     return R_NilValue;
   }