diff --git a/scd/command.c b/scd/command.c
index 2128298c6..916a141ae 100644
--- a/scd/command.c
+++ b/scd/command.c
@@ -806,6 +806,7 @@ cmd_readkey (assuan_context_t ctx, char *line)
       if (!pkadv)
         {
           rc = gpg_error_from_syserror ();
+          gcry_sexp_release (s_key);
           goto leave;
         }
       log_assert (pkadvlen);