diff --git a/libavfilter/vf_separatefields.c b/libavfilter/vf_separatefields.c
index d9c4839630..8fce6de060 100644
--- a/libavfilter/vf_separatefields.c
+++ b/libavfilter/vf_separatefields.c
@@ -77,8 +77,10 @@ static int filter_frame(AVFilterLink *inlink, AVFrame *inpicref)
 
     inpicref->pts = outlink->frame_count * sf->ts_unit;
     ret = ff_filter_frame(outlink, inpicref);
-    if (ret < 0)
+    if (ret < 0) {
+        av_frame_free(&second);
         return ret;
+    }
 
     second->pts = outlink->frame_count * sf->ts_unit;
     return ff_filter_frame(outlink, second);