diff --git a/memtable.cc b/memtable.cc
index 4b331949c5..ca327ce0ec 100644
--- a/memtable.cc
+++ b/memtable.cc
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ memtable::memtable(schema_ptr schema)
         , partitions(partition_entry::compare(_schema)) {
 }
 
+memtable::~memtable() {
+    partitions.clear_and_dispose(std::default_delete<partition_entry>());
+}
+
 memtable::const_mutation_partition_ptr
 memtable::find_partition(const dht::decorated_key& key) const {
     auto i = partitions.find(key, partition_entry::compare(_schema));
diff --git a/memtable.hh b/memtable.hh
index 37c0831297..6c01aac039 100644
--- a/memtable.hh
+++ b/memtable.hh
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ public:
     using const_mutation_partition_ptr = std::unique_ptr<const mutation_partition>;
 public:
     explicit memtable(schema_ptr schema);
+    ~memtable();
     schema_ptr schema() const { return _schema; }
     mutation_partition& find_or_create_partition(const dht::decorated_key& key);
     mutation_partition& find_or_create_partition_slow(partition_key_view key);