diff --git a/usr.sbin/mixer/mixer.c b/usr.sbin/mixer/mixer.c
--- a/usr.sbin/mixer/mixer.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/mixer/mixer.c
@@ -147,7 +147,9 @@
 
 parse:
 	while (argc > 0) {
-		if ((p = strdup(*argv)) == NULL)
+		char *orig;
+
+		if ((orig = p = strdup(*argv)) == NULL)
 			err(1, "strdup(%s)", *argv);
 
 		/* Check if we're using the shorthand syntax for volume setting. */
@@ -200,7 +202,7 @@
 		/* Input: `dev.control=val`. */
 		cp->mod(cp->parent_dev, valstr);
 next:
-		free(p);
+		free(orig);
 		argc--;
 		argv++;
 	}