diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index ac0ccac76d..c1d1f74b88 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -3279,9 +3279,9 @@ fail:
 
     if (use_local_qiov) {
         qemu_iovec_destroy(&local_qiov);
-        qemu_vfree(head_buf);
-        qemu_vfree(tail_buf);
     }
+    qemu_vfree(head_buf);
+    qemu_vfree(tail_buf);
 
     return ret;
 }