diff --git a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
index 4fff2e447861..e76a14458180 100644
--- a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
+++ b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
@@ -2867,7 +2867,10 @@ power_down:
 release_lock:
 	hdd_ctx->start_modules_in_progress = false;
 	mutex_unlock(&hdd_ctx->iface_change_lock);
-
+	if (hdd_ctx->target_hw_name) {
+		qdf_mem_free(hdd_ctx->target_hw_name);
+		hdd_ctx->target_hw_name = NULL;
+	}
 	/* many adapter resources are not freed by design in SSR case */
 	if (!reinit)
 		hdd_check_for_leaks();