diff --git a/src/mesa/shader/slang/slang_compile_operation.c b/src/mesa/shader/slang/slang_compile_operation.c
index 410d215a8d4..5d80bc77c64 100644
--- a/src/mesa/shader/slang/slang_compile_operation.c
+++ b/src/mesa/shader/slang/slang_compile_operation.c
@@ -205,6 +205,8 @@ slang_operation_insert(GLuint *numChildren, slang_operation **children,
          *children = NULL;
          return NULL;
       }
+      if (*children)
+         _mesa_free(*children);
       *children = ops;
       (*numChildren)++;
       return newOp;