diff --git a/bgpd/bgp_aspath.c b/bgpd/bgp_aspath.c
index 12bd45d9e359..bc7e8939b42a 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgp_aspath.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgp_aspath.c
@@ -1407,7 +1407,8 @@ struct aspath *aspath_remove_private_asns(struct aspath *aspath, as_t peer_asn)
 		last_new_seg = new_seg;
 		seg = seg->next;
 	}
-
+	if (!aspath->refcnt)
+		aspath_free(aspath);
 	aspath_str_update(new, false);
 	return new;
 }