diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/common.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/common.cpp
index e164bb146..82e1f2415 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/common.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/common.cpp
@@ -454,10 +454,7 @@ void G_LoadGroups(int32_t autoload)
             g_defNamePtr = dup_filename(type->defname);
 
         if (type->rtsname && g_rtsNamePtr == NULL)
-        {
-            free(g_rtsNamePtr);
             g_rtsNamePtr = dup_filename(type->rtsname);
-        }
     }
     else
     {