diff --git a/src/gp2y0a/gp2y0a.c b/src/gp2y0a/gp2y0a.c
index f1bd7152..cdca66ed 100644
--- a/src/gp2y0a/gp2y0a.c
+++ b/src/gp2y0a/gp2y0a.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ gp2y0a_context gp2y0a_init(uint8_t pin, float a_ref){
     dev->pin = pin;
     dev->aio = mraa_aio_init(dev->pin);
     if(dev->aio == NULL){
+        free(dev);
         return NULL;
     }
     dev->a_res = (1 << mraa_aio_get_bit(dev->aio));
diff --git a/src/mpr121/mpr121.c b/src/mpr121/mpr121.c
index c63fb8df..1e0e6a77 100644
--- a/src/mpr121/mpr121.c
+++ b/src/mpr121/mpr121.c
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ mpr121_context mpr121_init(int bus, uint8_t address){
     }
 
     if (mraa_i2c_address(dev->i2c, dev->address) != MRAA_SUCCESS){
-        free(dev);
         printf("error using i2c address: %x\n", dev->address);
+        free(dev);
         return NULL;
     }