diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/misc/atInit.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/misc/atInit.c
index 0f28ce239..ab3510e6a 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/misc/atInit.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/misc/atInit.c
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ static void atInitHook(initHookState state)
     if(iocshCmd(item->cmd))
       epicsStdoutPrintf(__AT_INIT_LOG(ERL_ERROR) "command '%s' failed to run\n", item->cmd);
 
-    free(item->cmd);
     free(item);
   }
 }