diff --git a/src/modules/spa/module-device-factory.c b/src/modules/spa/module-device-factory.c
index 17842a1e1..a2fd55714 100644
--- a/src/modules/spa/module-device-factory.c
+++ b/src/modules/spa/module-device-factory.c
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ error_properties:
 	if (resource)
 		pw_resource_errorf_id(resource, new_id, res,
 				"usage: "FACTORY_USAGE);
-	goto error_exit;
+	goto error_exit_cleanup;
 error_device:
 	pw_log_debug("can't create device %s: %s", factory_name, spa_strerror(res));
 	if (resource)
@@ -178,6 +178,10 @@ error_bind:
 	pw_resource_errorf_id(resource, new_id, res, "can't bind device");
 	pw_impl_device_destroy(device);
 	goto error_exit;
+
+error_exit_cleanup:
+	if (properties)
+		pw_properties_free(properties);
 error_exit:
 	free(factory_name);
 	errno = -res;