diff --git a/module/zfs/spa.c b/module/zfs/spa.c
index da238a398b63..3b63427c2c96 100644
--- a/module/zfs/spa.c
+++ b/module/zfs/spa.c
@@ -3095,6 +3095,8 @@ spa_load_best(spa_t *spa, spa_load_state_t state, int mosconfig,
 
 	if (config && (rewind_error || state != SPA_LOAD_RECOVER))
 		spa_config_set(spa, config);
+	else
+		nvlist_free(config);
 
 	if (state == SPA_LOAD_RECOVER) {
 		ASSERT3P(loadinfo, ==, NULL);