diff --git a/src/lxc/tools/lxc_start.c b/src/lxc/tools/lxc_start.c
index ef45ffb083..20d5b03643 100644
--- a/src/lxc/tools/lxc_start.c
+++ b/src/lxc/tools/lxc_start.c
@@ -80,16 +80,11 @@ static int ensure_path(char **confpath, const char *path)
 			goto err;
 		}
 
-		*confpath = strdup(fullpath);
-		if (!*confpath) {
-			ERROR("failed to dup string '%s'", fullpath);
-			goto err;
-		}
+		*confpath = fullpath;
 	}
 	err = EXIT_SUCCESS;
 
 err:
-	free(fullpath);
 	return err;
 }