diff --git a/src/host-bit.c b/src/host-bit.c
index db86924ee5..9c4083b02e 100644
--- a/src/host-bit.c
+++ b/src/host-bit.c
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ static void HostBitRemove(Host *h, uint16_t idx)
     GenericVar *gv = HostGetStorageById(h, host_bit_id);
     if (gv) {
         GenericVarRemove(&gv, (GenericVar *)fb);
+        XBitFree(fb);
         HostSetStorageById(h, host_bit_id, gv);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/util-var.c b/src/util-var.c
index f5c0379fda..8a2df63f1f 100644
--- a/src/util-var.c
+++ b/src/util-var.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 
 #include "util-debug.h"
 
-static void XBitFree(XBit *fb)
+void XBitFree(XBit *fb)
 {
     if (fb == NULL)
         return;
diff --git a/src/util-var.h b/src/util-var.h
index b95b59fd2b..39f2698dc0 100644
--- a/src/util-var.h
+++ b/src/util-var.h
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ typedef struct XBit_ {
     uint32_t expire;
 } XBit;
 
+void XBitFree(XBit *);
+
 // A list of variables we try to resolve while parsing configuration file.
 // Helps to detect recursive declarations.
 typedef struct ResolvedVariable_ {