diff --git a/src/diff.c b/src/diff.c
index 00e4d7995..6ae5dc63d 100644
--- a/src/diff.c
+++ b/src/diff.c
@@ -1362,6 +1362,10 @@ lyd_diff_siblings_r(const struct lyd_node *first, const struct lyd_node *second,
         LY_ARRAY_FREE(userord[u].inst);
     }
     LY_ARRAY_FREE(userord);
+    if (rc) {
+        lyd_free_siblings(*diff);
+        *diff = NULL;
+    }
     return rc;
 }