diff --git a/src/hu_stuff.c b/src/hu_stuff.c
index 274c2bdfd..69e8c99ff 100644
--- a/src/hu_stuff.c
+++ b/src/hu_stuff.c
@@ -1437,7 +1437,7 @@ static void HU_drawMiniChat(void)
 
 	for (; i>0; i--)
 	{
-		const char *msg = CHAT_WordWrap(x+2, boxw-(charwidth*2), V_SNAPTOBOTTOM|V_SNAPTOLEFT|V_ALLOWLOWERCASE, chat_mini[i-1]);
+		char *msg = CHAT_WordWrap(x+2, boxw-(charwidth*2), V_SNAPTOBOTTOM|V_SNAPTOLEFT|V_ALLOWLOWERCASE, chat_mini[i-1]);
 		size_t j = 0;
 		INT32 linescount = 0;
 
@@ -1479,6 +1479,9 @@ static void HU_drawMiniChat(void)
 		dy = 0;
 		dx = 0;
 		msglines += linescount+1;
+
+		if (msg)
+			Z_Free(msg);
 	}
 
 	y = chaty - charheight*(msglines+1);
@@ -1501,7 +1504,7 @@ static void HU_drawMiniChat(void)
 		INT32 timer = ((cv_chattime.value*TICRATE)-chat_timers[i]) - cv_chattime.value*TICRATE+9; // see below...
 		INT32 transflag = (timer >= 0 && timer <= 9) ? (timer*V_10TRANS) : 0; // you can make bad jokes out of this one.
 		size_t j = 0;
-		const char *msg = CHAT_WordWrap(x+2, boxw-(charwidth*2), V_SNAPTOBOTTOM|V_SNAPTOLEFT|V_ALLOWLOWERCASE, chat_mini[i]); // get the current message, and word wrap it.
+		char *msg = CHAT_WordWrap(x+2, boxw-(charwidth*2), V_SNAPTOBOTTOM|V_SNAPTOLEFT|V_ALLOWLOWERCASE, chat_mini[i]); // get the current message, and word wrap it.
 		UINT8 *colormap = NULL;
 
 		while(msg[j]) // iterate through msg
@@ -1547,6 +1550,9 @@ static void HU_drawMiniChat(void)
 		}
 		dy += charheight;
 		dx = 0;
+
+		if (msg)
+			Z_Free(msg);
 	}
 
 	// decrement addy and make that shit smooth:
@@ -1598,7 +1604,7 @@ static void HU_drawChatLog(INT32 offset)
 	{
 		INT32 clrflag = 0;
 		INT32 j = 0;
-		const char *msg = CHAT_WordWrap(x+2, boxw-(charwidth*2), V_SNAPTOBOTTOM|V_SNAPTOLEFT|V_ALLOWLOWERCASE, chat_log[i]); // get the current message, and word wrap it.
+		char *msg = CHAT_WordWrap(x+2, boxw-(charwidth*2), V_SNAPTOBOTTOM|V_SNAPTOLEFT|V_ALLOWLOWERCASE, chat_log[i]); // get the current message, and word wrap it.
 		UINT8 *colormap = NULL;
 		while(msg[j]) // iterate through msg
 		{
@@ -1638,6 +1644,9 @@ static void HU_drawChatLog(INT32 offset)
 		}
 		dy += charheight;
 		dx = 0;
+
+		if (msg)
+			Z_Free(msg);
 	}