diff --git a/libs/esl/src/cJSON.c b/libs/esl/src/cJSON.c
index 1f092ea8f9..9287f84694 100644
--- a/libs/esl/src/cJSON.c
+++ b/libs/esl/src/cJSON.c
@@ -1147,11 +1147,6 @@ fail:
         hooks->deallocate(buffer->buffer);
     }
 
-    if (printed != NULL)
-    {
-        hooks->deallocate(printed);
-    }
-
     return NULL;
 }