diff --git a/src/detect-engine-loader.c b/src/detect-engine-loader.c
index 0e10edc41a..1c4ad0872b 100644
--- a/src/detect-engine-loader.c
+++ b/src/detect-engine-loader.c
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ static TmEcode DetectLoader(ThreadVars *th_v, void *thread_data)
             int r = task->Func(task->ctx, ftd->instance);
             loader->result |= r;
             TAILQ_REMOVE(&loader->task_list, task, next);
+            SCFree(task->ctx);
             SCFree(task);
         }