diff --git a/src/clientimpl.h b/src/clientimpl.h
index 4e4eb51..b15fff9 100644
--- a/src/clientimpl.h
+++ b/src/clientimpl.h
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ struct RequestFL {
     std::vector<Value> unused;
 
     explicit RequestFL(size_t limit) :limit(limit) {}
+    ~RequestFL();
 };
 
 struct RequestInfo {
diff --git a/src/clientmon.cpp b/src/clientmon.cpp
index f80ebd8..288f1ec 100644
--- a/src/clientmon.cpp
+++ b/src/clientmon.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ typedef epicsGuard<epicsMutex> Guard;
 DEFINE_LOGGER(monevt, "pvxs.client.monitor");
 DEFINE_LOGGER(io, "pvxs.client.io");
 
+RequestFL::~RequestFL()
+{
+    Guard G(lock);
+    unused.clear(); // pacify valgrind with free() under lock
+}
+
 namespace {
 struct Entry {
     Value val;