diff --git a/src/pcm/pcm.c b/src/pcm/pcm.c
index 178d4387..d6bf31ac 100644
--- a/src/pcm/pcm.c
+++ b/src/pcm/pcm.c
@@ -8099,8 +8099,13 @@ snd_pcm_chmap_t *snd_pcm_get_chmap(snd_pcm_t *pcm)
  */
 int snd_pcm_set_chmap(snd_pcm_t *pcm, const snd_pcm_chmap_t *map)
 {
-	const snd_pcm_chmap_t *oldmap = snd_pcm_get_chmap(pcm);
-	if (oldmap && chmap_equal(oldmap, map))
+	const snd_pcm_chmap_t *oldmap;
+	int nochange;
+
+	oldmap = snd_pcm_get_chmap(pcm);
+	nochange = (oldmap && chmap_equal(oldmap, map));
+	free((void *)oldmap);
+	if (nochange)
 		return 0;
 
 	if (!pcm->ops->set_chmap)