diff --git a/libavfilter/vf_ciescope.c b/libavfilter/vf_ciescope.c
index 450c17b126..7c0cfed061 100644
--- a/libavfilter/vf_ciescope.c
+++ b/libavfilter/vf_ciescope.c
@@ -1369,8 +1369,10 @@ static int filter_frame(AVFilterLink *inlink, AVFrame *in)
 
     if (!s->background) {
         ret = draw_background(ctx);
-        if (ret < 0)
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            av_frame_free(&out);
             return ret;
+        }
         s->background = 1;
     }
     for (y = 0; y < outlink->h; y++) {