diff --git a/src/apa102/apa102.c b/src/apa102/apa102.c
index 6579eed6..4366dbd7 100644
--- a/src/apa102/apa102.c
+++ b/src/apa102/apa102.c
@@ -125,10 +125,14 @@ upm_result_t apa102_set_leds_brightness(apa102_context dev, uint16_t s_index, ui
 upm_result_t apa102_refresh(apa102_context dev) {
     assert(dev != NULL);
     if(!dev->cs) {
-        mraa_spi_write_buf(dev->spi, dev->buffer, dev->framelength);
+        uint8_t* recv =
+            mraa_spi_write_buf(dev->spi, dev->buffer, dev->framelength);
+        if (recv != NULL) free(recv);
     } else {
         mraa_gpio_write(dev->cs, 1);
-        mraa_spi_write_buf(dev->spi, dev->buffer, dev->framelength);
+        uint8_t* recv =
+            mraa_spi_write_buf(dev->spi, dev->buffer, dev->framelength);
+        if (recv != NULL) free(recv);
         mraa_gpio_write(dev->cs, 0);
     }
     return UPM_SUCCESS;
diff --git a/src/apa102/apa102.cxx b/src/apa102/apa102.cxx
index 264c7418..46b7323e 100644
--- a/src/apa102/apa102.cxx
+++ b/src/apa102/apa102.cxx
@@ -165,7 +165,8 @@ void
 APA102::pushState(void)
 {
     CSOn();
-    m_spi->write(m_leds, m_frameLength);
+    uint8_t* recv = m_spi->write(m_leds, m_frameLength);
+    if (recv != NULL) free(recv);
     CSOff();
 }