diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyve/net_backends.c b/usr.sbin/bhyve/net_backends.c
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyve/net_backends.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyve/net_backends.c
@@ -695,7 +695,6 @@
 	if (priv->nmd == NULL) {
 		WPRINTF(("Unable to nm_open(): interface '%s', errno (%s)",
 			devname, strerror(errno)));
-		free(priv);
 		return (-1);
 	}