diff --git a/src/acl.c b/src/acl.c
index 5fea5dcc2..014269e74 100644
--- a/src/acl.c
+++ b/src/acl.c
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ static struct acl_expr *prune_acl_expr(struct acl_expr *expr)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (expr->smp->arg_p != empty_arg_list && !unresolved)
-		free(expr->smp->arg_p);
+	release_sample_expr(expr->smp);
+
 	return expr;
 }