diff --git a/src/dbus.c b/src/dbus.c
index 0c55ea5..bf6b661 100644
--- a/src/dbus.c
+++ b/src/dbus.c
@@ -761,8 +761,11 @@ char *dbus_init(void)
 
   dbus_error_init (&dbus_error);
   if (!(connection = dbus_bus_get (DBUS_BUS_SYSTEM, &dbus_error)))
-    return NULL;
-    
+    {
+      dbus_error_free(&dbus_error);
+      return NULL;
+    }
+  
   dbus_connection_set_exit_on_disconnect(connection, FALSE);
   dbus_connection_set_watch_functions(connection, add_watch, remove_watch, 
 				      NULL, NULL, NULL);