diff --git a/ext/standard/file.c b/ext/standard/file.c
index fdeabd1872d2..089b3940e08c 100644
--- a/ext/standard/file.c
+++ b/ext/standard/file.c
@@ -663,11 +663,10 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(file)
 			p = e;
 			goto parse_eol;
 		}
-	}
 
-	if (target_buf) {
-		zend_string_free(target_buf);
+		zend_string_efree(target_buf);
 	}
+
 	php_stream_close(stream);
 }
 /* }}} */