diff --git a/src/tar.c b/src/tar.c
index d65fc806..8dbd737b 100644
--- a/src/tar.c
+++ b/src/tar.c
@@ -2852,11 +2852,14 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   if (volno_file_option)
     closeout_volume_number ();
 
-  /* Dispose of allocated memory, and return.  */
-
-  free (archive_name_array);
-  xattrs_clear_setup ();
-  name_term ();
+  /* There is little point to freeing, as we are about to exit,
+     and freeing is more likely to cause than cure trouble.  */
+  if (false)
+    {
+      free (archive_name_array);
+      xattrs_clear_setup ();
+      name_term ();
+    }
 
   if (exit_status == TAREXIT_FAILURE)
     error (0, 0, _("Exiting with failure status due to previous errors"));