diff --git a/src/generic/regiong.cpp b/src/generic/regiong.cpp
index 67190870b9..24d24e2bba 100644
--- a/src/generic/regiong.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/regiong.cpp
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ Region REGION::XCreateRegion(void)
 
     if (!temp->rects)
     {
-        free((char *) temp);
+        delete temp;
         return (Region) NULL;
     }
     temp->numRects = 0;